Road Structures

The completion of Colombia’s long-running La Linea Tunnel project is now in sight, finally. Colombia’s president, Juan Manuel Santos, and vice president, German Vargas Lleras, made a joint announcement that the 8.65km long tunnel will be inaugurated in November 2016. The two tunnel drives (from Quindio and Tolima) have now met in the middle and only lining works are left to be completed. Once the tunnel is operational, it will enable trucks to complete the journey between Cajamarca (Tolima) and Calarca (Qui

Chinese contractors are interested in a series of highway projects in the Czech Republic. One of the Czech projects attracting the Chinese interest is for the R4 express road, which will cost in the region of €274 million to construct. The tender process for this project will open in early 2016. The Czech Transport Ministry says that several Chinese firms are interested in a number of the country’s PPP projects. Another project in focus will be for the R7 Prague-Chomutov road, which will be built after the

A consortium comprising four contractors is carrying out construction of Algeria’s new Tizi-Hacine road link. The 18km road project in Mascara Province is costing US$205.34 million to build. The project is for the second part of the highway linking Mascara to the East-West motorway. The consortium comprises four Spanish-Algerian companies including Sarl Benzamia, Irrigout, CHM and LIC. Meanwhile work on the 25km stretch of road linking Hacine to the East-West highway is also commencing. This work is to be c

The concession package for Colombia’s Toyo Tunnel project will be awarded in the third quarter of 2015. This has been announced by the authorities in Antioquia. The date has been set for September 28th for the concession to be awarded. The project will cost US$530.2 million, with the costs being split between the Medellin Council and the regional government. The 9.8km tunnel will help boost transport and trade between Medellin and Uraba. The regional government has launched a dedicated website with details

Strong interest in investment in Indonesian infrastructure is being reported. Work is starting on a series of major infrastructure projects. The groundbreaking for the trans-Sumatra toll road has been carried out. The toll road will link Aceh to Lampung and is one of a series of major projects commencing in the country. The Indonesian Government has increased its allocation for capital expenditure from US$12.03 billion to $22.36 billion for 2015. Infrastructure development in 2015 is expected to fuel the co

Plans are well in hand in El Salvador for a key bypass project. Approval has been given for a US$122 million loan for the San Miguel bypass. The loan will help finance the San Miguel road bypass, with the El Salvador Government contributing an additional $30 million towards the project. The construction work is expected to last around four years. In addition, official approval has also been given for talks with the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) over a loan worth $115 million to finance the Pacific-

Work on a new link connecting Kenya with South Sudan will commence in 2016. The US$956 million road project will run from Lesseru in Kenya to Nakodok/Nadapal, on the border with South Sudan. The 601km road will be an important road connection running the northern part of Kenya via Lokichar, Kakuma, Lodwar to Lokichoggio. The project will also include the installation of a 600km fibre optic cable. Some $500 million of the necessary financing is being provided by the World Bank, with a further $70 million bei