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The Indian authorities are continuing to invest in infrastructure with 11 major projects planned to be launched during the coming financial year.

Independent tests are showing the benefits of the latest geosynthetics developments. Geosynthetics specialist Tensar has commissioned independent tests to prove the capabilities of its innovative TriAx product, which has set a lead in the field.

Four major infrastructure projects in Pakistan have been approved by the country's National Highway Authority.

The new Sandvik DE150 is Sandvik's most powerful exploration drill rig for underground exploration, and a surface version is under development and will be ready for market in the fourth quarter of 2009. The DE150 (part of the expanded DE100 range) has a hydraulic feed cylinder designed to a push and pull capacity of 15tonnes (147 kN).

The highway authorities in Indonesia are setting a budget of US$1.79 billion to maintain 34,000km of roads in the country during 2010.

The event, organised by UK Roads, was held in association with MIRA (formerly Motor Industry Research Association); Mott MacDonald and Traffex/Road Expo, also offered an exhibition of related products and services from MIRA; FSP (Frangible Safety Posts); 3A Composites; ASD Metal Services; JPCS; Tofco; FLI Structures (screwpile demonstrations); Highway Care; Gloucester Composites; Traffex; Road Expo; Brett Landscaping; NAL and SAPA.

The latest 2.5tonne capacity AUSA articulated rotating dumpers, D250AHGA and D250AHG, offer a high degree of stability and safety. Other features include high manoeuvrability and the ability to work in difficult spaces. The D250AHGA is equipped with a rotating hi-tip unloading system, significantly increasing productivity.

In the US state of Virginia, the Governor Robert McDonnell is suggesting a new toll on Interstate 95 to help pay for road repairs.

A new quarry is producing top quality aggregates for Poland's massive road construction programme writes Claire Symes. Wakoz Beton's Glazica sand quarry in Poland is a major source of high quality sand and gravels for the Gdansk construction market. The site is modern and only opened in 2006 but Wakoz Beton has continued to invest in facilities to improve its efficiency and output quality. The installation of a CDE mobile washing plant at the site last year is allowing it to provide materials for concrete.

Topcon says that its advanced SiteLink technology provides a comprehensive information technology solution for equipment on construction sites. The SiteLink product is a wireless communications mapping, data logging, reporting and asset management package that can be used on off-highway equipment. According to Topcon the system can be used with any make, model or type of job site machine, regardless of manufacturer and age. The system can also pinpoint via GPS any make of equipment on a job site, serving as

Approval has been won by the South African National Roads Agency for construction of the planned N2 Wild Coast toll road project.

Automated operation is said to boost productivity for Atlas Copco's new ROC F9C SmartRig. This innovative machine allows operators to lay out shot patterns on a computer and can help them follow through with GPS-guided, automated drilling for higher accuracy and speed. Documentation of performance is kept for better planning and accountability and the ROC F9C rock drill can adjust impact power and feed pressure to suit rock conditions, for smoother drilling and reduced stress on the drill string.

China's Gansu Province is to benefit from a major new highway connection. Work on the Cheng county-Wudu highway is scheduled to start at the end of August 2010.

Versatility remains the key for the utility equipment sector. The range of duties that compact machines can be used for continues to grow.

Dynapac is offering four new tandem rollers aimed at asphalt compaction duties that extends its range in the 7-13tonne class to eight models in all. These machines have been developed to provide a high quality surface finish, while being efficient to run with low maintenance needs and easy servicing.

A new report by the US based Freedonia Group suggests that construction spending in China will grow 9.1%/year in real terms through 2014.

Late in 2010 Macquarie Mexican Infrastructure Fund (MMIF), the first peso-denominated fund focused solely on investment opportunities in Mexican infrastructure projects, completed the acquisition of a northern Mexico highway package.

A seven year old US school boy was so keen to get to school when his parents slept in one morning that he took their car and attempted to drive himself. The boy unfortunately crashed the car en-route, although he only suffered minor injuries and was later discharged from hospital. He had missed the school bus and opted to take the car and drive to school but ran the car off the road several times before hitting an embankment and a utility pole. The boy arrived shortly after lunch after being taken to school

In Northern Nigeria motorcyclists have attempted to dodge new laws requiring the use of helmets by wearing dried pumpkin shells on their heads. Officials have cracked down on motorcycle riders wearing improvised helmets made from calabashes, dried pumpkin shells that are usually used to carry liquid. Motorcycle taxis are widely used in Nigeria to travel around the country's congested urban areas.

Modern software is stretching traditional design boundaries on a motorway widening in the Netherlands, reports Adrian Greeman There was a time when civil engineering and aesthetics did not mix too well, especially on roads. The artistic ideas of an architect did not blend with the stringent requirements of structure. But modern three-dimensional modelling software is helping this change. Design notions that might have been overly complicated in the past are now attainable with hi-tech analysis tools.