Road Structures

Subsidence on a key stretch of highway in Nepal is causing major traffic disturbance. The BP Highway, also known as the Banepa- Sindhuli- Bardibas Road, has suffered subsidence on the Nepalthok-Khurkot stretch. The collapsed section measures 27m long and is causing delays for drivers. This Highway is an important route as it connets Nepal’s capital Kathmandu with Eastern Terai. Vehicles have been diverted to an alternative route, although part of the roadway is still being used to carry traffic in one d

Approval has been given for Vietnam’s Hoa Binh-Moc Chau expressway project. The go ahead has been given by Vietnam’s Government. The project has an estimated cost of US$881 million and is planned as a public-private partnership. The construction work is expected to take 42 months and the new route will connect Hoa Binh to Moc Chau. When complete the expressway will cut the journey time between Hanoi and Moc Chau by around two hours.

Financing has been found to pay for road upgrade projects in Ivory Coast. The Morocco-based banking business Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP) will provide nearly US$183 million for improvement works to two stretches of highway. The funding will allow the Kokonou to Apprompronou road to be resurfaced with asphalt. Meanwhile the road running from Yamoussoukro through Bouaflé to Daloa will also be improved.

Construction work is due to commence in Hungary on a new dual carriageway, which will be the country’s first intelligent road for testing self-driving cars. The new R-76 route will link the M7 highway with Zalaegerszeg and is expected to cost close to €535 million to build. The road will run close to Sarmellek Airport and will take 24 months to construct.

Construction work for a new expressway project is now underway in the Philippines. The Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) will link Mactan with mainland Cebu. The work includes the construction of bridge and the project is being carried out under a Public-Private Partnership scheme. The work is being carried out by Metro Pacific Tollways. Also planned is construction work to build bridges joining Leyte, Negros, Bohol, and Cebu.

Brazilian contractor Odebrecht may withdraw from its current contracts in Peru. The firm had planned to continue operating in Peru but is now considering withdrawing. Odebrecht has hit a series of troubles in Peru due to the complex political situation as well as allegations over improper business practices. The firm is looking to sell off the contracts that it holds in Peru at present and has already dispensed with some operations in the country.

A key stretch of highway in Romania is now open to traffic, connecting Lugoj with Marginea. This 15km long stretch of highway forms part of the planned Lugoj-Deva highway. Located in western Romania, the highway is being built by a joint venture comprising Salini Impregilo and Societa Edile Construzioni e Lavori. The project is worth some €124 million, with the work having been supervised by Romania’s National Road Infrastructure Administration Agency (CNAIR).