News

Mexico’s road building programme could be hit hard by insufficient asphalt supplies. Both construction companies and asphalt distributors have warned that the country is suffering a 20% shortage of the material. The shortage began to bite in November 2013 and is due in part to insufficient supplies from state-run oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex). This could delay road maintenance projects by up to 30%. Asphalt represents up to 60% of the value of such projects, according to national asphalt associati

The UK-based IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) is calling on the British government to introduce a national strategy of driving health checks and better information for elderly drivers and their families. The call comes after a poll showing that 42% of the population are worried about an elderly relative driving, yet they are unlikely to do anything about it. The IAM and Vision Critical poll of 1,297 people shows that while concern about elderly drivers is evident, acting on our concerns is another

Around 7,000 extra potholes are to be repaired across Staffordshire as part of a €2.5 million (£2.1 million) package of investment in the English county’s roads. Staffordshire County Council is also drafting in two extra pothole-blitzing machines – in addition to the two already out tackling potholes and improving road surfaces in the county. The two extra machines use high velocity patching and can tackle stretches of defects and are particularly effective on more rural, less constructed roads.

Switzerland saw its total number of road accident deaths fall by more than a fifth in 2013, compared to the previous year. In 2013, the country recorded 269 deaths, down by 70 or 21% on the previous year. The number of serious injuries fell by 2% or 73 to 4,129. The number of accidents resulting in injuries reached 17,473. Accidents involving bicycles and motorcycles declined sharply, as the poor weather led people to stay at home.

Moroccan road development fund CFR (Caisse pour le Financement Routier) is to receive a US$206.96 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB). The funds will be used for road modernisation in order to reduce congestion and improve the safety of road users. Around 30 sites will be modernised and 1,650km of roads will be widened.

Spanish construction firm Sacyr is set to invest around US$1.5 billion in Colombian road concession projects. The country is regarded as an ideal recipient for foreign investment. Current Sacyr projects in Colombia include a bridge costing $40.11 million (COP 80 billion), as well as the $116.79 million (COP 233 billion) road scheme between Buenaventura-Loboguerrero. The country has embarked on a major road development programme, via serious and transparent processes, according to Sacyr.

Vietnam’s government has secured an ODA (Overseas Development Agency) financial support package worth US$844.95 million (JPY 86.4 billion) for four infrastructure projects in the country. A total of $179.75 million (JPY 18.4 billion) of the package will go to Ho Chi Minh City-Dau Giay Highway that is scheduled for completion in July 2016, while another $165.1 million (JPY 16.9 billion) is allocated for Tan Vu-Lach Huyen Road, set to open in early 2017.

Jejudo Island in South Korea wants all vehicles used on the island to be electric by 2030. The province is working towards adding over 500 electric vehicles in use in 2014, while the number of fast and slow-charging vehicles is set to be increased by 21 and 500, respectively, said Kang Dong-woo, section chief of the smart grid office under the provincial administration.

A new hitch-hiking function has been added to the speed-check warning application belonging to the Polish firm Yanosik. Potential hitch-hikers log into the new Yanosik Autostop function using Facebook, after which drivers are notified about them at the same time as receiving traffic and radar warnings. The Yanosik app is currently available free of charge on Google Play for Android system users.

Qatar is preparing to launch a variety of road, bridge and other infrastructure development projects worth US$65 billion. The President of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority, Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, said these included high-profile megaprojects worth $30 billion. Al Attiyah said that as well as roads and bridges, the development projects also involve the railway network, stadia, water and electricity, urban development and hotels.

The ‘Drug, Alcohol and Speed’ Commission at the influential Conseil National de la Sécurité Routière (CNSR) in France were expected to recommend during a meeting today a reduction from 90 to 80km/h for the maximum authorised speed limit on the country’s entire secondary road network.

Belgium’s €577.9 million A11 motorway Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project has become the first greenfield infrastructure works to receive credit enhancement under the European Commission and EIB (European Investment Bank) Project Bond Initiative. The financing, secured by an EIB letter of credit, is part of the test phase for the 2012 Brussels-launched Project Bond Initiative aiming to invigorate capital market financing for infrastructure projects. The A11 motorway is due for completion in 2018. The