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JCB is expanding its range of mini excavators with the launch of the 8026 CTS. The 8026 CTS joins the range alongside the zero tailswing 8025 ZTS in the line-up. The new 2.7tonne machine offers a conventional layout with a trailer-towable transport weight and increased lifting capacity. The 8026 CTS uses a dedicated boom and dipper arm for greater digging and lifting performance. Increased efficiency allows the 8026 CTS to use the same engine family as the 8025 ZTS, with a similar torque output, but with a

A ground-breaking project to ensure the UK is well positioned for the commercial roll-out of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles was announced yesterday by Mark Prisk, the UK government’s business minister. The new programme – UKH2Mobility – will evaluate the potential for hydrogen as a fuel for Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles in the UK before developing an action plan for an anticipated roll-out to consumers in 2014/15.

Ramtec’s backhoe series hydraulic hammer BH30C is designed to fit all modern backhoe loaders, larger mini excavators and skid steer loaders. The company will demonstrate sound suppressing housing, for 3-6,500kg carriers, at INTERMAT 2012.Launched last spring, the BH30C has been selling well to western European markets. At the Pre-Intermat event, Ramtec stressed their keenness to link up with UK distributors for its extensive product range

Plans are in hand in Russia’s capital Moscow for the rebuilding of nine highways leading out of the city. The work will be carried out by 2014 and is being funded out of the US$69.55 billion budget set for the city’s 2012-2016 transport development programme.

Komatsu has revealed two new mid-sized excavators – the PC240LC-10 and PC290LC-10. Komatsu’s Dash 10 excavators are said to bring improved efficiency, lower fuel consumption, better operator comfort and lower operating costs to market. And the two new Dash 10 models include the 26tonne PC240LC-10 and 31.9tonne PC290LC-10.

The tender process for Indonesia’s Suramadu bridge project will be reopened.

Reductions in road building budgets are being implemented in various departments in France, in a bid to cut overall spending. In 2009 some €4.5 billion was spent on the road budget, compared with €3.9 billion planned for 2012.

In India work is now kicking off on a new eight lane highway running from Nariman Point to Kandivali in Mumbai. The 35km highway will cost a projected US$1.58 billion to build.

Building two additional lanes in the US state of Colorado for the C-470 freeway between Wadsworth Boulevard and Interstate 25 is expected to cost some US$200 million.

The US has seen a major reduction in deaths following accidents in its highway construction work zones, while Europe and other parts of the world are looking at new safety technology and systems to trigger a similar trend. Guy Woodford reports. Work in the US to reduce the likelihood of potentially fatal accidents at highway work zones is paying dividend.

Plans are moving forward in France for the beltway project around the city of Strasbourg.

Traffic technology company Siemens has launched a new low-cost coating for traffic controllers and signals which provides lasting protection against dirt and acts as an anti-graffiti barrier, making it difficult to attach posters or write on the protected surface.

In Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region of England, some residents are reported to be so fed-up of waiting for traffic lines to be painted on roads by the local county council that they are threatening to do it themselves. Staffordshire County Council highways bosses say they can only take on four new traffic measure projects a year and have a waiting list stretching to 2028. Media outlets in the county report that the local authority currently has more than 70 requests from all over Stafford borough

Intelligent Energy, a specialist in clean power systems, and the Suzuki Motor Corporation have announced the creation of a joint venture company called Smile FC System Corporation, to develop and manufacture air-cooled fuel cell systems for a range of industry sectors.

Nissan North America, leading power and technology group ABB, along with 4R Energy and Sumitomo Corporation of America, have formed a partnership to evaluate the reuse of lithium-ion battery packs that power the Nissan Leaf.

DELTA, which has introduced its brand new handheld RetroSign GR3 retroreflectometer for measuring the retroreflection of traffic signs, also offers a number of instruments for road markings. The Danish company points out that as the median age of the average driver grows the importance of night-time visibility of pavement markings for traffic safety becomes even greater.

The US Department of Transportation's Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office (ITS JPO) has released the following three research reports related to Connected Vehicle policy.

Morocco’s highway network continues to improve and develop, with new sections and connections being opened.

Danish company DELTA is introducing its new RetroSign GR3 Retroreflectometer for quality control and asset management of road signs and retroreflective materials with laboratory precision. The company says that to achieve these goals the triple geometry retroreflectometer is offered with GPS and RFID (radio frequency identification) reader.

A low level of investment in improvements and upgrades to Germany’s highway network is causing concern in the country’s transport sector. Some states have revealed a backlog of works needing to be carried out, with road surfaces now reaching the end of their design life and bridges requiring replacement in different parts of the country. Transport groups say that continuing low road maintenance budgets will further exacerbate the problem.