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Shantui’s SR12-5 road roller is the Chinese company’s most exported construction machine model and will be part of its large exhibition at INTERMAT. Said by Shantui to be designed mainly for use in mid-sized compaction duties, it features DANA hydraulic control systems, and comes with a single front-mounted drum.

LiuGong Machinery is using Intermat 2012 to unveil its next generation excavator range. The new E Series excavators represent a leapfrog improvement for LiuGong, meeting world-class standards of quality and design.

With intelligent emissions control from the introduction of a Cummins six-cylinder engine, Vogele’s Super 2100-3i paver aims to raise paving efficiency to another level.

Caterpillar aims to boost its market share with the launch of its new high performance tandem asphalt rollers. Key upgrades include redesigned cabs new controls and improved diagnostics capabilities and better visibility will improve safety and ease of operation.

Preliminary work is now underway for the project to upgrade the M2 motorway in New South Wales, Australia. The project has commenced with night time working, before operations gear up and daytime working commences. The project is expected to cost US$550 million and will take two years to complete. This is NSW's biggest project carried out on an operational motorway.

The authorities in China are now acting on plans announced last year to build a proportion of the country's new highway network from concrete. The new 84km highway connecting Xingtai in Hebei and Fenyang in Shanxi will be constructed with a concrete surface. The project is due for completion in mid 2013 and is expected to cost some US$1.37 billion to construct. This development is of note as the country has built most of its most recently constructed highways using asphalt technology.

Work on the Myanmar section of the Stilwell Road will be carried out by Chinese contractor Yunnan Construction Engineering Group (YCEG). The deal is worth some US$498 million and the project is for a 375km stretch of highway. YCEG will carry out the project in partnership with the Yuzana Group. The deal is of note as it will improve Myanmar's international links with its neighbours.

Plans are in hand to upgrade the Bayonne Bridge in the USA. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey intends to raise the central span of the bridge from its current height of 46-65.5m. The port authority has approved a US$1 billion grant for the project. The work is needed to allow larger vessels to pass under the bridge by 2014. Other options have included building a new bridge or constructing a road tunnel but the upgrades to the Bayonne Bridge have been regarded as the most cost effective.

Poland has invested some €5.15 billion on road projects in 2010. The Polish General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA) signed contracts to build 544km of roads, including 300km of highways and 244km of dual carriageways. Of this 15% came from the Polish Government, while some 85% came from the National Road Fund (KFD).

The head of the German firm contracted to build 14 satellites for Europe's Galileo satellite navigation system called the entire project a "stupid idea," according to a leaked diplomatic cable published in Norway's Aftenposten newspaper.The head of the German firm contracted to build 14 satellites for Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation system called the entire project a "stupid idea," according to a leaked diplomatic cable published in Norway’s Aftenposten newspaper. Aftenposten said the cable quotes Be

The Department of Transport is planning to improve traffic flow in Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City, in a bid to reduce congestion and delays. Some 18 major road projects are due to commence in the city in 2011. In total the 18 road projects will be worth close to US$600 million. The contractors carrying out the work have not been revealed at this stage. Some obstacles to a number of the projects exist however with financing and land clearance issues expected to provide some hurdles.