News

The global in-vehicle systems market could triple to US$20 billion by 2020, according to leading business strategy consultants Roland Berger. In the U.S., General Motors is equipping its vehicles with GSM cards in order to offer full connectivity, allowing the driver to manage all vehicle data from a smartphone.

A 4km tunnel and the widening of the M4 motorway will be the first works on the WestConnex motorway project in Sydney, Australia. The initial works will cost between US$2.72 billion (AUD 3 billion) and $3.6 billion (AUD 4 billion). The tunnel will run from Strathfield to Ashfield and will run under the Parramatta Road. The government has pledged $1.62 billion (AUD 1.8 billion) to the project. Announced in October 2012, the completed 33km WestConnex motorway will cover the western, inner western, and sout

The first superspan gantry has been installed over the M25 motorway near London, England. The structure near Junction 24 (Potters Bar, Hertfordshire) is part of the €219.92 million (£188 million) Managed Motorway scheme to upgrade the motorway between junctions 23 and 27. Weighing 36 tonnes and measuring 40m across, it is the first of five superspan gantries which will be installed during the project being carried out by Skanska Balfour Beatty, on behalf of the Highways Agency. The gantries will

All villages in Vietnam will be connected by roads that can be used by motor vehicles by 2015, according to the country’s Ministry of Transport. The key access pledge is part of a road building programme started five years ago that has so far cost US$2.23 billion (VND 47 trillion). Part of the scheme also includes the construction of roads for motorbikes and non-motorised vehicles, especially roads running through poor areas.

The Chinese authorities have announced plans to construct the world’s longest undersea tunnel. Measuring a colossal 123km long, the tunnel route runs under the Bohai Sea and is intended to connect Dalian in Liaoning Province with Yantai in Shandong Province. The tunnel was first proposed in the mid-1990s when it was expected to cost in the region of US$10.3 billion to build but the project was shelved due to the enormous construction challenges it posed. However tunnelling technology has moved on and the Ch

The Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) has plans to expand the country’s road network. In all 42 road construction projects will be completed during the present financial year while a further 45 new road projects will be started. The new roads will extend for a total of 20,700km. Key roads being built will connect Woliso and Ambo, Goro and Lebu and Awash and Debreberhan via Dulecha and Ankober. The programme of works is expected to cost US$1.53 billion.

Bidding is strong for a road tunnel project in Bosnia Herzogovina. The expected cost of the 902m long tunnel has not so far been revealed, however the project is being financed jointly by the European Investment Bank (EIB) as well as Bosnia’s Federal Government. The tender for the project was announced by Bosnian roads company, Cesta Federacije BiH. Bids have been received from Croatian contractors Skladgradnja, Viadukt and Hidroelektra Niskogradnja.