Road Structures

Progress is being made for Colombia’s Toyo Tunnel project. Around 20% of the work has been carried out. Building the tunnel and the first stage of the connecting highway sections in Antioquia includes the construction of 17 bridges, seven tunnel sections and 4.4km of road. Tendering for the second stage of the project is due to start soon and will include building a further 19.4km of highway. The Toyo Tunnel project and the entire highway was originally expected to cost US$603.5 million but is now expected

An important road widening project is starting in the Republic of Bashkortostan, part of the Russian Federation. The contractor, Khotkovsky Avtomost, will widen a 19.65km stretch of the M5 route from a single lane in either direction at present so that it will have two lanes in either direction. The work will improve transport to and from the city of Ufa, home to one of the largest truck manufacturers in the Russian Federation. The work also includes building two new interchanges as well as a bridge and an

The Vietnamese Government is giving its approval for the construction of a new tolled expressway connecting Phan Thiet with Dau Giay. The work will be carried out under the PPP model. Building the expressway will improve transport connections to the coastal area around Phan Thiet. Dau Giay is located just to the east of Ho Chi Minh City, so the new link will provide an important transport connection that will boost the economy for Phan Thiet. This deal comes shortly after the announcement of a new 85km str

A new expressway project is gathering momentum in Vietnam with approvals being given for the link between Moc Chau and Hoa Binh. The authorities are considering implementting the project under the PPP model. Building the 85km link is expected to cost US$955.5 million and the work will help reduce congestion on the existing National Highway No6. The work will face some challenges as the topography between Moc Chau and Hoa Binh is hilly. The new route will allow vehicle speeds of up to 80km/h.

Egyptian capital Cairo is already benefiting from the opening of a massive new bridge. features six lanes in either direction, making it the world’s widest suspension bridge. This bridge is one of several forming part of the new highway running across Egyp

A new highway link is being planned for Tunisia.

Kuwait’s innovative Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway connection is now complete and open to traffic. Measuring 48.5km in all, the new causeway comprises the 36.1km Subiyah Link and the 12.4km Doha Link, making this the world’s fourth longest bridge. Dar’s worked as lead consultant on the project working alongside Dar Group sister companies TY Lin International, Ross & Baruzzini and Currie & Brown. Dar was the Engineer’s Representative and the construction supervisor, as well as leading detailed desi

A programme of works aimed at eliminating all the rail crossings in Australia’s Victoria State is being established. The work is expected to cost US$705 million (A$1 billion). Eight level crossings will be removed in the north of Melbourne during 2019. In all, 75 level crossings in Melbourne will be removed by 2025. The aim of the plan is to improve safety, replacing the level crossings with either bridges or underpasses.

The tender process is now underway for the massive tunnel project for Guangzhou City in China. The tunnel will measure 5.3km in length and the project will also include building approach roads measuring a total of 3.6km. The new tunnel will be built in the city’s Nansha District and will provide a connection under the Zhujiang River Estuary. Building the tunnel and the associated connecting roads is expected to cost US$618 million.

Construction work is underway on the 8km Karavanke Tunnel connecting Austria and Slovenia. The work is being carried out at present from the Austrian end of the tunnel link. However the selection process for the contractor to handle the Slovenian end of the tunnel is now underway. Six firms have shown interest in the project and are in talks with the Slovenian state motorway operator, DARS.