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February 15, 2019

French earthmoving market on firm ground, reports CISMA

The French earthmoving equipment market increased by more than 3% last year - the best year since the market crash of 2008. Heavy earthmoving equipment is up 8.6% to 5,100 machines, according to data compiled by CISMA, a member of France’s Federation of Mechanical Engineering Industries (FIM). However, the increase is much lower for compact equipment, just 2% over in 2018 over 2017. Sales reached 17,250 machines in France, Europe’s third largest market for such equipment. For crawler excavators, th
February 15, 2019

Bulgaria lets contract for Struma Motorway’s Zheleznitsa Tunnel

A consortium including local firms GP Group, Global Construction and Via Plan will build the 2km Zheleznitsa Tunnel, part of the Struma Motorway. The contract is worth around €97.5 million and the tunnel will be the longest in Bulgaria. The EU Cohesion Fund will co-finance the project, along with the Bulgarian government under the Operational Programme Transport and Transport Infrastructure 2014-2020. Completion is set for the end of 2023. Two previous tender processes to award the construction con
February 14, 2019

EU construction machinery sector needs resolve as Brexit looms

German construction machinery manufacturers are concerned about a no-deal Brexit – UK exiting the European Union - and the possible disintegration of the EU. Rising global economic challenges can be mastered only with a strong, united Europe, according to the VDMA - Construction Equipment and Building Material Machinery Association. VDMA represents more than 3,200 mostly medium-sized companies in Germany’s mechanical and plant engineering sector. This was the view by attendees at the VDMA’s constructi
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February 14, 2019

Finalists announced for bauma Innovation Award 2019

The competition is a joint project led by the German Engineering Federation, the Main Association of the German Construction Industry, the Central Association of the German Construction Industry, the German Association of Building Materials - Rock and Earth and bauma. More information about the awards can be found at by clicking here. https://www.baumainnovationspreis.de/en/
February 14, 2019

RINA Consulting starts to lower Morandi Bridge sections

Deconstruction of the collapsed Morandi Bridge in Genoa, Italy, has begun, according to RINA Consulting. The first bridge deck section was lowered to the ground from a height of 48m, said Roberto Carpaneto, chief executive of RINA which is responsible for design control and construction management of the project. "We are really satisfied with how this delicate operation is being conducted with the whole construction team working as one to guarantee the best result.” RINA Consulting was chosen by the c
February 14, 2019

Australia infra spend could peak in 2019, notes Investment Monitor

Australia’s construction activity might be slowing down after this year, according to an analysis of the country’s infrastructure activity by Deloitte Access Economics. While a number of factors support an optimistic view that business investment could lift more sharply than forecast over the next two years, latest quarterly Investment Monitor from Deloitte Access Economics is predicting slower growth. “Although the healthy project pipeline will continue to support elevated levels of infrastructure activi
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February 14, 2019

Vietnam’s key highway project commencing

Construction of Vietnam’s North-South expressway is planned to commence during 2019. An initial funding package of US$600 million will pay for the start of the works, which includes buying the land and clearing the way for the route. The winners of the tenders for the first sections should be announced in April-June 2019, with these sections due for completion in 2021. The winners of the tenders for a bridge section on the route should be announced in October 2019, with the bridge due for completion in 2022
February 8, 2019

Strong Italian construction machine sales

Strong sales of construction machines in Italy reflect an improving economy according to construction machinery manufacturing association, UNACEA. During 2018, 14,645 construction machines were sold in the Italian market, a growth of 16% compared to the previous year. Sales of earthmoving machines were particularly healthy, hitting 14,144 units and showing 16% growth from the previous year. Sales of road construction machines grew by 2% to 501 units meanwhile. “2018 has been an encouraging year for the I
February 8, 2019

German tunnel project

The project to build the Riederwaldtunnel highway tunnel in Germany is now likely to cost €477 million. The project was originally expected to cost €322 million. The tunnel will stretch 1.1km and will provide a connection between the A66 and A661 routes. Construction work on the tunnel, located near the city of Frankfurt, is expected to commence in 2020.
February 8, 2019

Improving US road safety and cutting crashes

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has unveiled a list of key targets needed to boost road safety. Driver distraction, fatigue and impairment are key issues needing to be addressed according to the NTSB’s ‘2019-2020 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements’. The list highlights key safety improvements that can be made across all transport modes to prevent incidents, minimise injuries and save lives. “The Most Wanted List is our road map from lessons learned to lives saved,”
February 8, 2019

Michigan road revamp requires additional funding

A huge investment in road upgrades is being planned in the US state of Michigan. The programme of works could cost an additional US$1.5 billion/year, with upgrades for highway routes and key interstate links. The Michigan Department of Transportation's (MDOT) says that this budget will be needed to improve the state’s key road links to the standard required. At the moment just half the required funding is in place, leading to a shortfall in road improvement work. The backlog on repairs and improvements to r
February 8, 2019

Serbia highway work commencing

Construction of the Preljina-Pozega section of Serbia’s Corridor 11 route is commencing in March 2019. The project is challenging due to the terrain and this section of the route will include 32 bridges, 11 overpasses, three tunnels and three interchanges. The work is itself being carried out in three sections. One 8.3km section runs from Preljina to Prijevor while there is an 15.5km section from Prijevor to Lucani and a 7km stretch joining Lucani with Pozega.
February 8, 2019

Montenegro motorway construction costs climbing

Construction of Montenegro’s Bar-Boljare motorway now looks likely to cost substantially more than originally planned. The project was originally budgeted at €80 million however Montenegro’s Ministry of Transport has now revealed that the work will have a pricetag some €15 million greater, totalling €95 million. This increase is considerably more than had been allowed for. The work is to be carried out by Chinese contractor CRBC although the deal has yet to be signed officially. The Smokovac-Matesevo stretc
February 8, 2019

New bridge crossing for Louisiana

A new bridge carrying Interstate 10 is being planned for Calcasieu in Louisiana. The new structure is expected to cost from US$400-600 million to construct and will feature three lanes in either direction, with provision also for cyclists and pedestrians. The bridge will be built to the north of the existing I-10 bridge, which was constructed in 1952 and is no longer able to cope adequately with the traffic volumes it carries. The new bridge is expected to be funded privately, with tolls for drivers crossin
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