News

Onsite work has started in the Kapiti Coast region on the Otaki-Peka Peka Expressway, part of the greater Wellington Northern Corridor project. Simon Bridges, New Zealand’s transport minister, recently turned the first sod on the US$175 million project. Travel times should be improved between Port of Wellington, hospitals, Wellington’s central business district and ferry terminals. The 110km Wellington Northern Corridor largely follows the current state highway route from the airport to Linden, near Tawa. F

AkzoNobel is expanding its operations and portfolio with the acquisition of UK-based concrete repair and protection manufacturer Flexcrete Technologies. As part of the deal, 100% of the shares in Flexcrete Technologies have been acquired by AkzoNobel.

The UK government plans to create of a Major Road Network class of highway which would tap into the multi-million euro annual National Road Fund. Main roads that are now overseen by local authorities would share the National Roads Fund that is financed by the VED – vehicle excise duty - which was previously envisaged to be ring-fenced for national routes. The VED was around €6.6 billion for 2016-17. Roads covered by the strategy are the A-class highways. The deal is part of an investment strategy unveiled b

Construction of Montenegro’s Bar-Bolijare highway project is being accelerated. This will ensure that the work remains on schedule and will be able to meet the planned completion date.

A new rural road development programme is being planned that will improve transport in India’s Gujarat State. A budget of US$329 million has been set to boost access to some 4,000 villages across the state that currently have inadequate connections to the transport network.

Plans are being drawn up in Cameroon for the construction of a new highway that will connect Douala with Limbé. The French contractor Egis is now commencing work on a feasibility study for the project.

A bridge project is being planned in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City that will span the Saigon River. The project is for the Thu Thiem 4 Bridge, which will measure 2.16km and connect District 2 with District 7.

The problem of inadequate bridges is widespread across US states but South Carolina is devising a 10-year plan that will address the structures in most need of attention. The programme of works will also tackle roads that have been identified as being in inadequate condition.

AB Volvo has sold its entire holding in German engine maker DEUTZ to institutional investors. The investment equated to approximately 25% of DEUTZ shares.

Spanish road safety can be improved if key road improvements are made, according to a new report published recently. The report has been produced jointly by the Spanish Association for Construction Companies and Infrastructure Concession Holders (Seopan) and the Spanish Roads Association (AEC).

Kenya’s port of Mombasa will benefit from transport link improvements through a loan facility provided by Japan.

India’s Rajasthan State is benefiting from new financing for its Highways Investment Programme. A loan facility will pay for highway development work in the state. Approval has been given from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

A highway bypass around the Moroccan city of Agadir is to be the subject of a new feasibility study.