Road Structures

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is suggesting that new highways could also be designed as backup runways for its air defence fleet. The first highway to be constructed so that it could also be used as a runway is likely to be the 302km Lucknow-Agra Expressway. This route will be operational by the end of 2016. The IAF has been working on plans to build emergency runways and has been developing solutions for mobile logistics support. It has also been researching suitable road sections and the minimum infrastr

Sweden is planning to construct more wildlife crossings in a bid to reduce roadkills. The plans have been drawn up by the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) and call for €321.74 million to be spent on building new wildlife crossings, bridges and underpasses, as well as erecting more wildlife fencing. The aim is to tackle the country’s current rising number of roadkills. There are currently 3,000km of wildlife fences in Sweden. A survey by Trafikverket has shown that a combination of wildlife fe

Vietnam is working on plans to develop a new highway in Ha Tinh. The proposal has been put forward by the Project Management Board Unit 85. The new highway would connect Vung Ang and Ham Nghi in Ha Tinh. A request has been lodged by the Project Management Board Unit 85 for funds worth US$232.56 million from build-operate-transfer investors and $94 million from State budget funds. Under the project, three additional bridges and 13 core bridges would be constructed. The project requires $299.64 million in

The Nepalese Government is planning a major programme of road development for the next three years. The aim of the programme is to build new roads that will join up to 500 Village Development Committee (VDC) locations that are not linked at present to the road network. According to the guidelines of the Ministry of Local Development, the Department of Local Infrastructure Development (DoLIDAR) has set a target to connect every VDC in Nepal with motorable roads. This is no small challenge however as Nepal is

A sophisticated construction method has been used for the first time in South Africa for a suspended bridge project This novel method of bridge construction was used on a major road upgrade project for the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL). Main contractor Lonerock Construction, and subcontractor Tzandeboo Construction, used RMD Kwikform’s Megatruss system to construct a 60m-long bridge while suspended mid-air over the live N4 highway. Lonerock Construction’s US$8.5 million (R132

Lobby group New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development has released a report assessing Auckland's congestion problem which costs the city about US$1.02 billion a year. The city’s increasing car gridlock will grind the economy to a halt, said Stephen Selwood, the group’s chief executive. However, part of the solution, according to the report, could be a major 11km road tunnel from the Panmure district to Auckland’s central business district. Selwood criticised Auckland city’s transport policy p

Housing is, rightly, the new London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s top priority, says the UK’s Mineral Products Association (MPA). It points out that delivery of much-needed new housing and infrastructure depends on a steady and adequate supply of construction aggregates and other essential mineral products such as concrete blocks and mortar. Wharves and rail depots play a key role in this, enabling the sustainable supply of bulk materials by rail and ship, delivering close to the market, significantly reducing t