'I Make America' to lobby for quick introduction of highway bills
A senior US manufacturing association figure said congressmen will be getting lobbied by a 20,000-strong campaign movement calling for the swift adoption of highway bills aimed at generating jobs and new transport infrastructure.
Japanese funds aid Nepal
The Japanese Government is providing funds to help Nepal build 33 bridges to connect villages with the Sindhuli Road.
Vietnam link due
Construction of Vietnam’s Da Nang - Quang Ngai Expressway is due to commence at the end of 2012.
Investing in compaction machine innovation
The Wirtgen Group is developing its manufacturing facilities outside of Germany. The company has extensive operations in Brazil and China and has now opened a new plant in India, which has started production already.
Joint president Stefan Wirtgen said, “The first machine we made was a Hamm compactor. It is specially developed for the Indian market.”
Vietnam-China bridge
Official approval has been given by the Chinese authorities for a new bridge that will link China with Vietnam.
Chinese introduce compaction equipment
New machines are now coming to the international market, with Chinese firms producing a particularly strong showing. At the last BICES exhibition in Chinese capital Beijing, one of the most notable developments was how many of the country’s equipment manufacturers now offer ranges of soil compaction and/or asphalt compaction equipment.
Compaction control boosts efficiency
Effective compaction control is one of a series of technical innovations boosting performance efficiency – Mike Woof writes. Maximising compaction efficiency can be a major cost factor on construction projects. Both for soil and asphalt compaction sectors, the risk from leaving an area under or over-compacted is substantial.
HDR wins I-710 Corridor study
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has approved the selection of HDR to perform the I-710 Corridor Project North Utility study.
Germany preparing to issue truck toll tenders
German Transport Minister Peter Ramsauer has announced that the government is currently preparing to invite tenders from companies and consortia throughout Europe for the collection of Germany’s truck toll scheme,
Robotic parking project for Atlantic City
Boomerang Systems, a designer and manufacturer of automated robotic parking and self-storage systems, has been contracted to supply 249 parking spaces utilising its RoboticValet parking system in the Metropolitan Project in Atlantic City,
Geosynthetics stabilise differential settlement
The ongoing Highways Agency A66 Carkin Moor to Scotch Corner project involves upgrading the original single carriageway to address safety concerns, particularly at junctions and crossings. Where differential settlement is threatening a remodelled junction, Tensar International's new TriAx geogrid provides an additional dimension of stability, saving design and build contractors Balfour Beatty Regional Civil Engineering Limited (BBRCEL) the heavy time and costs inherent in conventional remedial solutions and
World of Asphalt/AGG1 Aggregates Forum & Expo
World of Asphalt 2012 and the co-located AGG1 Aggregates Forum & Expo will be the largest in the history of the two events. Guy Woodford reports on some of the technology and equipment set to be on show. With over 6,500m² of exhibit space available, World of Asphalt 2012 (WoA) is among the global showpiece events of the year for all asphalt, pavement maintenance and traffic safety industry professionals.
Geosynthetics for base reinforcement
Tensar is making some key moves internationally, as well as in terms of market segments. The company is now marketing the GlasGrid range in the US and expects to develop healthy sales, however it sees major growth potential with the Geogrid product range. Jim Penman, director for bi-axial products & applications said: "One area we're moving into is base reinforcement and in particular what we're looking at is mechanistic emirical (ME) technology." Tensar has worked with the University of Illinois on a new d
Strabag secures US$2.23billion Italian motorway build project
The US$2.23billion (€1.7billion) contract to build the Pedemontana Lombarda motorway in northern Italy has been won by the Strabag consortium.
IRF Bulletin on the Environment & Climate Change
The latest IRF Bulletin is wholly devoted to issues of Environment & Climate Change as they impact on the road infrastructure sector. It features an authoritative but highly readable set of articles contributed by IRF members throughout the world.
November/December 2011
This Ecuadorian pick-up truck proves so popular with passengers that is has standing room only: image courtesy of World Highways reader Jaime Erazo Pastor.
October 2011
Road users need to be wary of high accident risks - photo supplied by World Highways reader Helen Marais
IRF calls for green initiatives to benefit infrastructure
*Susanna Zammataro introduces the range of issues addressed by IRF Geneva’s very active Environment Committee. Achieving sound environmental and sustainability outcomes has long been an integral part of IRF members’ policy and practice.
Geosynthetics give extra strength to soil reinforcement
Using geosynthetics for soil reinforcement is highly effective but requires a high quality and trusted geogrid.
When it comes to deciding which geogrid is best for a specific project, a number of product parameters must be taken into account. In the design of steep slopes, the most important parameter is the available long term design strength (Pdes). Recently, Colbond has significantly increased this factor for its high performance Enkagrid product, recognised with a newly updated BBA (British Board of Ag
September 2011
Rural roads in developing nations can feature all kinds of hazards.