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The authorities in Guatemala are presently carrying out feasibility studies for an inter-oceanic logistics corridor that would connect both sides of the country.

Demolition is a highly specialised business, as the machinery required to carry out the work on high-rise demolition contracts can be very site specific. Today's high reach demolition rig is no longer simply a tracked excavator with a long boom, indeed some machines cannot be used as excavators at all. Likewise a machine that is dedicated to carrying a 2.5 or 3tonne shear or hammer will need to be built to take the stresses and strains of demolition life.

The World Bank Global Road Safety Facility and IRF work together to reduce the toll of road deaths and serious injuries in low and middle-income countries

The sector for machine guidance systems is growing fast as contractors become more and more aware of the benefits of using this technology. Increased speed, working accuracy and cost effectiveness are key benefits of this technology, with just three firms, Trimble, Topcon and the Hexagon Group, dominating the market. The Hexagon Group is perhaps the newest entrant to the sector, having acquired Leica Geosystems and Scanlaser in recent years. John Fraser is sales and marketing manager at Scanlaser, and expla

Chinese construction equipment manufacturer LiuGong Machinery announced first quarter earnings of US$93.35 million (¥612 million; ?66.03 million) from a net profit of $905.58 million (¥5.94billion; ?640.59 million) total sales revenue.

From the highway to the parking space: message sign technology has proved that it simplifies wayfinding Variable message signs (VMS) are often located at key decision points on busy highways to help manage the network by providing advanced warning to drivers of emergencies and incidents. They are also used to warn drivers of events that may cause delays in the future such as road works and major events. An example comes from the USA where, to stimulate economies and refresh downtown areas, cities are build

The fabled Silk Route from China to Europe takes many forms, and is again becoming increasingly important as Patrick Smithreports The ancient Silk Road was never a single caravan route, but covered hundreds of kilometres in width extending in length for around 10,000km. This is the view of the European International Road Transport Union (IRU), and many other countries and organisations, who point out that it is a system of routes covering many countries via a series of branch roads that dates back some 2

Special bitumen mixes and machines are capable of improving the service life of roads and reducing noise. Mike Woof and Patrick Smith report. The need to improve traffic flow in an important part of the City of Poznan, Poland, led to the decision to build a new 1.13km long dual carriageway.

Innovative uses are being made of GPS technology, Mike Woof reports. US firms Creighton Manning Engineering and Delaney Construction have made a novel use of GPS technology in a project for the Route 85 Slingerlands bypass extension in the US.

Chinese financing will be used to pay for new road links in Sri Lanka. The China Development Bank is providing sources to funds of up to US$500 million that will pay for key road upgrades in Sri Lanka.

XGMA’s XG904 mini loader is said by the Chinese company to be “one machine for multi applications”. The highly versatile machine can be used in an array of applications including utilities work, loading duties, and more specialist work when fitted with attachments rather than a bucket.

In the first article of a three-part series on preventive maintenance, Alan S. Kercher, of Kercher Engineering, highlights the value to road agencies of a properly implemented pavement preservation programme For many road agencies, the budget for maintenance, rehabilitation and reconstruction (MR&R) of their roads is focused mainly on the pavements that are in the worst condition. In the short term, this common approach may seem very logical. However, when focused on expensive structural improvements,

IRF is now accepting entries for the 2010 edition of its annual awards competition, the Global Road Achievement Awards (GRAA). The deadline for submission of projects is 31 May, 2010. IRF began this prestigious annual programme as a means to publicise the benefits the road industry makes to global economies and the positive impact road development has on societies around the world. Since the launch of the competition in 2000, more than 70 projects from two dozen countries have been recognised for their cont

Advanced weigh-in-motion (WIM) systems can offer a quick payback time

SAINT-GOBAIN PAM UK says that it has a number of innovative new solutions for road infrastructure. The novel GripTop range of access covers can help reduce the risk of skidding among two-wheeled road users and feature an aggregate surface designed to boost safety. The firm's Aquamax gully grate has high absorption capacities that allow them to quickly and safely drain roads suffering heavy rain. Aquamax also incorporates heavy duty features which enable it to cope with stringent traffic conditions while pro

International Road Community Rises to the Challenge of Safe, Smart and Sustainable Mobility. Songs are like roads - highways to the heart - opening new vistas, new challenges and new opportunities." Singer, Mafalda Arnault's words during a splendidly moving opening ceremony were an apt introduction to the spirit and achievements of what proved a highly successful 16th IRF World Meeting in Lisbon. A capacity audience clapping in unison to the soulful sounds of Fado was symbolic of an industry showing it can

Following a government decision, a new model for the management and financing of the road infrastructures sector was defined in 2007 and is now being implemented. The national road agency (Estradas de Portugal or EP, EPE) was transformed into a state-owned public company, Estradas de Portugal, SA (EP, SA), and a new body, the Institute for Road Infrastructures (InIR), was created with public functions of regulation and supervision of road infrastructures.

In the US work is now commencing on the key I-269 highway upgrade at Byhalia in the state of Mississippi. The new US$19.5 million section now under construction will complete the beltway around nearby Memphis, Tennessee.

Pipe and cable detector specialist Radiodetection is widening its product range with the introduction of a new line of leak detectors. The new acoustic leak detectors are said to be easy-to-use, affordable and portable and can be used along with the proven RD7000+ and RD8000 range of cable and pipe locators. The new RD52x family of wireless noise loggers can be used to monitor extensive and complex water networks, without the need for digging up roads. The units combine the latest digital and acoustic techn

THE TRIMBLE TSC3 handheld controller for construction is said to offer powerful and rugged control capabilities. This hand-held unit is aimed at duties with heavy and highway contractors and features builtin GPS, 3G, Wi-Fi and a 5 megapixel digital camera. The unit is said to allow site workers to stay connected and also provides accurate positioning and digital design information. Using this unit allows engineers to locate, measure and record information anywhere on the construction site with a single devi