Road Structures

Morocco’s road development programme is continuing with the announcement of plans for new motorway projects and upgrades. The country’s motorway company, ADM, will spend US$366.8 million on building a new motorway link from Berrechid to Tit Mellil and also to add lanes to the Casablanca to Berrechid connection. The latter will help reduce congestion at peak periods and improve journey times for users. New automated tolling systems are also being introduced on the country’s motorway network.

A series of major road projects is being carried out in Panama. The Santiago-David road is being upgraded at present. The work has been split into five sections, with the entire project expected to cost US$1.08 billion. The plans are now being drawn up for the 40km section connecting San Juan and La Pita. This stretch of the project will cost $218.26 million to carry out.

Concern is being expressed over official reports in Norway that 1,087 of Norway’s 16,971 bridges are in need of repairs. The structures in question feature damage that is considered substantial enough to affect their load capacity or safety. The reports also reveal that just eight of the country’s bridges have been inspected since 2013. Norway’s Public Road Administration (Statens Vegvesen) has the task of inspecting the country’s bridges and ensuring they meet requirements. However there are concerns over

Two new road tunnel links and a new multi level interchange will be constructed in Oman. These tunnel sections will run under the Bidbid-Sur road and will boost safety for road users by giving protection from potential landslides. One 600m long tunnel will be built in Nidab town and the other tunnel will be 450m long and will be built in Wadi Al Aqa. Oman’s Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) is managing the work.

Several major highway projects are being planned for Vietnam. The largest is for the construction of the North-South Expressway, which will improve transport connections for the country. Financing is being secured for the North-South Expressway, with some US$5.23 billion being secured. The Vietnamese Government will pay up to 39% of the cost of the work, with loans and private sector funding paying for the remaining 61%. Meanwhile a South Korean contractor will carry out a series of road projects in Can

In Colombia, an area hit hard by devastating floods is now benefiting from a temporary steel bridge. The modular steel structure was supplied by Acrow Bridge and has been playing an important role in helping with relief efforts following the extensive damage caused by the recent floods. The modular steel bridges were erected in the City of Mocoa in the south-western part of Colombia following the floods and mudslides that left more than 250 people dead and hundreds missing. The Acrow structure being used

Construction of a US$7.17 billion (A$9 billion) highway in New South Wales, Australia will require the demolition of up to 100 homes to prepare the route. The properties that will have to be demolished have a combined value of some $318.62 million (A$400 million), with owners having to be paid the necessary compensation. The 23km route will extend the existing M1 Princes Motorway. Construction of the tolled route will help reduce congestion in southern Sydney.

Construction work on Algeria’s East-West Highway project is finally drawing to a close.

A Liebherr rotary drill rig and oscillator combination has been working in Mexico on a highway project for contractor Mota-Engil. A Liebherr piling rig is playing an important role on a major Mexican highway construction project being carried out by a division of the Portuguese firm Mota-Engil. The use of the rig by Mota-Engil Mexico’s newly formed geotechnical division is helping to set new quality standards for piling in the country. The contractor is leasing one of the latest Liebherr LB 24-270 rotary