News

The Israel National Roads Company (INRC) has developed an action plan with record levels of spending for 2012. The INRC is publishing tenders for projects this year worth a total of US$942.65 million. The INRC will publish some 36 tenders in 2012, roughly three/month. Among the list of key projects are scheduled work on Road No.1, including the Harel tunnel and Motza Bridge, as well as Roads 531, Road 4 (Morasha), Road 9, Road 31 and Road 38. Forming part of the Netivei Israel plan, a tender for the constru

Hamm is launching a range of compaction equipment at INTERMAT. The company is offering its latest HD+ series of tandem rollers. There are 12 models in the new HD+ series from 9-15 tonnes. The range includes vibration, oscillation and combination rollers as well as models with split drums.

Port road improvements worth US$104 million (A$100 million) will boost connectivity for a key facility in Western Australia. A contract for Esperance's port has been awarded by Australia's Main Roads West Australia to Australia-based John Holland. The engineering and construction firm will be responsible for diversion of a 1.3km section of railway, realignment of 1.8km road and construction of two bridges to cross the railways. The firm, which is a unit of Leighton Holdings, is expected to take around 18 mo

The Scottish Government has announced that a project to complete the M8 and to upgrade several other highways is going to cost about €606 million (£508 million). In all some 18km of highway will be upgraded, although the project will not be completed until 2017, four years later than was originally planned. The delays are blamed on funding issues. The work is being handled by the Transport Scotland agency, which has opened the tender process

The authorities in Albania are planning to open a new tunnel that will form part of the Tirana-Elbasan highway. This new link is currently under construction and is due to be opened in early May 2012. The tunnel is 4.3km long and is around 66% complete.

An investment of US$ 646 million will improve sections of road in Mexico’s Jalisco State, as well as other links. A 30km road connecting with Tepic will be upgraded, along with 169km of highway and 111km of another road. Mexican firm IDEAL is investing in the links.

Amsterdam in the Netherlands is to benefit from €131 million aimed at improving roads. The funds will be invested in 50 measures including a 9km of peak traffic lanes on the A7 and A8 highway between Purmerend, Zaandam and Oostzaan. This forms part of a €794 million programme of upgrades to the country’s transport infrastructure.

A new law in the US state of Pennsylvania will help boost safety for cyclists. This sets rules for Pennsylvania drivers to follow when encountering a cyclist. Drivers now have to leave a 1.22m space when overtaking cyclists. To achieve this, drivers may have to cross the centre line when passing a bicycle on the left, but only when opposing traffic allows. Drivers attempting to turn left must also yield the right of way to bicycle riders travelling in the opposite direction. The new law also calls for bicyc

The latest official figures on road safety in Europe are giving cause for concern, with data showing casualty reduction has slowed. EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas recently announced a disappointing progress on casualty reduction on Europe's roads. The joint European police association, TISPOL, has added that it is also concerned that improvements in cutting fatalities on Europe’s roads significantly slowed in 2011.