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A US$136 million road contract will be carried out in the UAE.

New road projects are planned for Panama. Contracts have been awarded by the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) worth some US$194.4 million. The work will be carried out in Los Santos, Herrera, Panama Oeste, Ngabe Bugle and Panama Este provinces. The Jose Agustin Arango-CPA-24 de Diciembre project is one of the larger of these and is costing $71 million, with the work being carried out by Puentes y Calzadas Infraestructuras. The Asociacion Accidental Tanara consortium, which comprises CUSA and Constructora de

China’s Guizhou Province is developing its transport infrastructure with a major programme of works being scheduled. Construction for six new highways is commencing during 2019, with the work being planned and managed by the Guizhou Provincial Transportation Department. These six highway sections will all feature at least two lanes in either direction, five of which will be for traffic speeds up to 80km/h. The 162km Nayong to Qinglong highway however will be for speeds up to 100km/h, is costing over US$5.

Financing in the shape of loans will help fund six PPP road projects in Argentina. Loans worth US$200 million and are being supplied by IDB Invest, a division of the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB). In all syndicated loans worth $900 million have been amassed from a number of banks and funding institutions to help pay for the projects. However the road projects are expected to cost in the order of $6 billion in all.

Acrow Bridge is expanding its operations with the acquisition of Mabey Bridge for an undisclosed sum. With this move, Acrow Bridge is further developing its share of the international market. Based in the US, Acrow Bridge already has a strong presence in the market worldwide, but by acquiring the UK company Mabey Bridge, this will significantly develop global reach. This development follows several months of negotiations between the two companies. “Mabey is a business that we have long thought would be an

The National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) at Auburn University has started its seventh cycle of tests on its 2.7km (1.7mile) Test Track.

New tests for cracking and rutting are easy to perform, use existing equipment and work well on mixes with different binders and recycled content - Kristina Smith writes Researchers at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) have developed new tests for cracking and rutting, designed to be quick and easy to carry out, using existing laboratory equipment. The most advanced of these is the IDEAL Cracking Test (IDEAL-CT), which could be appearing in specifications in some of the US states in around six

New developments in compaction equipment are being introduced to the market - Mike Woof writes Ammann has broadened its asphalt compactor range with the addition of the ARX 91 model New compaction machines are offering improved performance for road builders, with equipment being introduced to meet the specific needs of key markets. Ammann has broadened its asphalt compactor range with the addition of the ARX 91 articulated tandem roller for emergent markets. The firm claims that the machine is able

The number of drivers feeling safe travelling along two of Guernsey’s key roads has more than doubled following the installation of solar powered road studs. In response to driver concerns about navigating unlit, narrow coastal roads after dark, Clearview Intelligence’s SolarLite Active Road Studs were installed along the La Neuve Rue at Albecq and Route de la Lague/ Route de Rocquaine at Fort Grey. Traditional retro reflective studs are reliant upon a vehicle headlight beam to be seen up to 90m away.

A series of major road transport projects are moving ahead in Colombia, with the country’s national infrastructure agency (ANI), handling most of the deals. In the country’s capital, Bogota, design work is now complete on the Calle 13 and Accesos Norte II road projects. The Calle 13 project will see an 11.5km section of route widened so that it features three lanes in either direction. The work will also include building new facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. This project is expected to cost US$1.15 b

Mexico City’s chronic traffic congestion could well be reduced by planned road repair works. Traffic is routinely clogged in the city, with potholes being one of many issues facing drivers. However the city authorities are providing a budget of US$351.2 million to tackle some of the worst road defects on key routes. The plan involves improving 55% of Mexico City’s primary road links by 2021. In 2019 alone, some 692km of roads will be improved.

A sustainably good road surface often depends on how well understood is the ground underneath the road’s route. Brian Jones* offers some best practice and advice for getting the most from ground-penetrating radar investigations Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is one of the most accurate non-destructive testing (NDT) methods available. To get the most from GPR surveying, it is absolutely essential to understand how GPR tools work and follow best practices when conducting surveys. Key areas to be aware o

International interest is strong in Vietnam’s landmark North-South Expressway project. French, Japanese and South Korean firms are amongst those showing an interest in building sections of the 2,100km route. Vietnamese contractors are also showing interest in the project and the tender process for the latest stretches will remain open until 9th July.

Discussions are being held with regard to funding for the Sarajevo to Belgrade highway link. The project is likely to cost around €3 billion to construct. The two cities lie around 194km apart but the current road route measures some 308km and takes close to six hours to drive. Building the new highway will reduce the distance and cut journey times considerably, as well as boosting safety and capacity.

UK contractor Tarmac will complete a resurfacing lap of the Silverstone Formula One track in time for the British Grand Prix in July. A highly durable asphalt solution will be laid over 20 days in June and which has been specifically designed to withstand the high demands and stresses of vehicles competing in professional racing series. The track, in Northamptonshire, England, will also hold the motorcycle GoPro British MotoGP Grand Prix in August. The work will be carried out under the guidance of in

Fugro, a geo-data specialist, is using the latest version of its Automatic Road Analyser (ARAN) in a new five-year pavement survey contract for Dutch highways. The contract, with an option to extend to 10 years, was awarded by the Dutch infrastructure agency Rijkswaterstaat. It includes the collection of surface condition and road measurement data from 8,600km of principal highways each year. The company’s Automatic Road Analyser - ARAN - which is adapted to meet European specifications and includes i

Since 2015 almost a million potholes have been recorded annually by UK local authorities, with the 2016 count reaching 1,088,965, according to an insurance provider. The Insurance Emporium obtained data from 175 local authorities and compared it to the incidence of injury and damage claims made against these authorities by cyclists. During 2017-18, there were 335 pothole damage and injury claims filed against local authorities. Personal and dental injuries to cyclists accounted for 16% of these and d

Public consultation is nearly closed for a possible new crossing across the River Tees in northern England that could cost upwards of €350 million. A €230-290 million Tees Viaduct Capacity Enhancement project is the preferred option against a €350 million Tees Viaduct option, according to the recently created Tees Valley Combined Authority, the local government. Capacity Enhancement project would see a two-lane bridge built parallel to the existing A19 viaduct to carry traffic travelling northbound an

A new highway project in Tajikistan has secured a funding package worth US$350 million in all.

Transport infrastructure projects in Paraguay are gathering pace. The country’s Ministry for Public Works and Communications says that work for the first two stretches of the Transchaco road upgrade project will commence in the third quarter of 2019. The work is being carried out in eight stretches and is expected to cost a total of US$605 million in all. Funding for the widening work is being provided jointly by the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) and the IADB. The CAF is providing a package worth