Road Structures

Successful talks have been held between Chile and Argentina with regard to the Agua Negra Tunnel that will link the two countries. The project looks set to cost US$1.37 billion to construct, according to Business News Americas. The majority of the planned route, 72%, lies in Argentina and the country will provide the bulk of the funding required; some $986 million. Chile will provide the remaining $384 million. The agreement was struck between the Publics Works Ministries of the two countries. Further detai

There is concern in Serbia over delays to the Zemun-Borca bridge project. Costing some €197 million in total for the bridge and its access roads, the project is due for completion in December 2014. However Serbia’s Ministry of Construction is investigating why the project is not on track and wants to bring the work back into line with the planned schedule. The Serbian Government is funding 15% of the project while China’s Exim Bank is providing 85%. The Chinese contractor China Road and Bridge Corporation i

Work on Pakistan’s Lowari Tunnel should be complete by October 2017. Completion of the construction project is dependent on sufficient funding however, according to Pakistan’s National Highway Authority (NHA). The Lowari Tunnel forms part of the Nowshera-Chitral Highway (N-45) and is being upgraded to boost both safety and capacity. So far over 4km of the 8.5km tunnel has been widened, costing close to US$93 million. Once the work is complete, this should reduce the travel time between Chitral and Peshawar

A new border bridge is being built between Thailand and Myanmar. The second Friendship Bridge will connect Mae Sot in Thailand with Myawaddy in Myanmar, spanning the River Moei. The project is expected to cost some US$93.9 million. Construction will commence in early 2015 and the structure is expected to be completed by the end of 2015. The bridge will be designed with a weight capacity of 100tonnes.

A major programme of repairs and rebuilding is being carried out on Russian roads in the country’s North-Western Federal District during 2014. In all close to US$144 million is being spent in a programme of works with upgrading 258 separate infrastructure projects. The work is being carried out on 293km of public roads in all, while work is planned on a further 400km of roads during 2015.

Plans are moving ahead in Bangladesh for a series of new elevated expressways that will be constructed in capital Dhaka. Chinese contractor China Railway Construction Corporation and Ital-Thai Development Corporation have signed an agreement that will see the two firms working jointly on the expressway project. A budget of US$172.55 million has been set for the work. The expressways are being elevated so as to minimise risks from flooding and also so as to minimise the amount of land required for their cons

A new bridge is planned for the Scottish city of Aberdeen, centre of the country’s oil industry. Continued growth in the city from the oil industry is fuelling an increase in vehicle numbers, with congestion a serious problem. As a result, Aberdeen City Council has given a contract to Balfour Beatty to construct the Third Don Crossing at a cost of some €17.6 million (£14.3 million). The two existing crossings to the north of the city centre suffer heavy congestion at peak periods at present and this new bri

Work on a 108km road connecting Irba Moda with Wadera in Ethiopia has now been completed. This upgraded road now features an asphalt surface along its length. The work was carried out by Turkish contractor Ahmet Aydeniz Construction Company. The contractor is now hopeful of winning further tenders in Ethiopia, which has a major infrastructure investment programme underway at present.