Road Structures

The controversy surrounding the driving of a new road tunnel close to the UK’s Stonehenge monument has deepened following a recent incident. A 3m diameter hole was allegedly drilled through an important archeological find, a platform constructed of flint and animal bone, located close to the site Stonehenge. The platform is thought to have been erected some 6,000 years ago, making it older than Stonehenge itself, and preserves hoof prints made by aurochs, giant wild cattle that are now long extinct.

Plans have been unveiled for a proposed road upgrade project in Scotland. These plans show the preferred route for the upgrade to the A96 between Nairn and Fochabers, towns which lie to the east of Inverness on Scotland’s North East coast. The project is being planned by Transport Scotland and will see the 45km road section being upgraded to dual carriageway status. The work will include building new crossings over the Aberdeen to Inverness rail links, as well as over the Spey, Findhorn and Lossie rivers.

South Korean contractor Hyundai Development has been awarded a major road project in Ethiopia. The firm will carry out the US$138 million project to construct a 143km road link between Ethiopia’s Tepi Region and Gore Region. The firm will commence construction activity in January 2019. The package of works was awarded to the firm by the Ethiopian Roads Authority. The project is important for Ethiopia economically as it will help develop trade and transport.

A new highway contract will be carried out in India by Welspun Sattanathapuram Nagapattinam Road (WSNRPL). The firm is a subsidiary of Welspun Enterprises and will work on the US$271 million project to upgrade the route connecting Sattanathapuram with Nagapattinam.

The new Monroe Expressway in North Carolina is now opening for drivers, which will cut journey times for many drivers in the city of Charlotte.

Construction work for a key stretch of Costa Rica’s Northern Ring Road (Circunvalacion Norte) could be delayed. The section from Leon X!!! and Colima was originally intended to open to traffic at the end of 2018. However, as construction work is not yet complete on the new bridge spanning the Rivera Ravine or for the intersection with La Uruca, there are concerns that opening the highway stretch could result in road safety issues. Building the Northern Ring Road is costing some US$163 million and the proj

Tendering is now underway in Pakistan for the N-30 Khuzdar to Basima Highway.

Important transport infrastructure projects have been proposed for the Philippines in a bid to boost connectivity. A feasibility study is planned for the two bridge links to connect Negros Island, Guinaras Island and Panay Island. And a feasibility study is also planned for the 26km Davao City Expressway Project. An agreement between the Chinese Government and the Philippines Government is allowing the feasbility studies to go ahead. The Philippine Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is overseein