Road Structures

Sophisticated temporary bridge technology has been provided by the US to Nepal to help with emergency access. The US Army Security Assistance Command (USASAC) supplied four prefabricated modular steel bridges, manufactured by Acrow Bridge. These temporary bridges will be used to allow emergency access to disaster hit areas in Nepal. The country’s tough climate and challenging geography mean it is vulnerable to natural disasters such as landslides, avalanches, earthquakes and floods. Acrow is a specialist i

The MPA (Mineral Products Association) and its members have been taking significant action on a key recommendation in the UK House of Commons Transport Committee Cycling Safety report relating to Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), published today. One of the Committee’s recommendations (16) calls on the freight industry to “create a culture of safety among HGVs” and requests “the establishment of a timetable for the development of an industry-wide code of conduct”. In support of this, MPA had already launched

The MPA (Mineral Products Association) and its members have been taking significant action on a key recommendation in the UK House of Commons Transport Committee Cycling Safety report relating to Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), published today. One of the Committee’s recommendations (16) calls on the freight industry to “create a culture of safety among HGVs” and requests “the establishment of a timetable for the development of an industry-wide code of conduct”. In support of this, MPA had already launched

In Saudi Arabia the go-ahead has been given for a new expressway that will connect Qassim with Makkah. The project is worth some US$1.2 billion and will include the construction of service facilities along the route. Details regarding the tender process or any technical features of the project have yet to be revealed.

The Nepalese Government has announced a major programme of transport infrastructure works for the 2014-2015 period. Road, highway and airport projects have all been prioritised. The detailed project report for the Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track Road is to be completed within six months. The proposal aims to attract investors by guaranteeing a minimum number of vehicles using the tolled link. The project has been delayed due funding issues. This period will also see work being carried out the Mid-Hills Highway,

In Denmark the Ministry of Transport has presented a proposal for hearing concerning a major new bridge link. The proposed structure would cross the Roskilde Fjord south of Frederikssund, partly replacing the existing Kronprins Frederik Bridge. The project is expected to cost €281.62 million, with partial financing from the Infrastructure Fund (Infrastrukturfonden). The rest will be sourced through road tolls. The Danish Construction Association has said that the project should also include the completion o

A consortium comprising local contractor Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (Cienco 4) and Japanese company Sumitomo Mitsui will carry out construction work on Vietnam’s new Ben Luc-Long Thanh expressway. This is the first package for the first phase of works on the expressway, with this tranche expected to cost in the region of US$1.6 billion. Vietnam’s Government is providing $337 million of the funding required. Some $635 million is coming in the shape of a loan from the Japan International Co-op

A colossal road construction plan has been revealed by China’s Yunnan Province. The authorities have revealed that the new infrastructure programme calls for the addition of a further 1,500km of highways. To achieve this, a budget of some US$24.17 billion has been set for the 2014-2015 period. With this road development programme in place the authorities have estimated that by the end of 2015 the province will have a highway network comprising some 4,500km in total.

A series of major road construction projects are underway in Colombia at present. The country’s national roads institute, Invias, is currently investing in excess of US$646 million on an array of road projects at the moment. One key project is for the construction of a new highway connecting Loboguerrero and Buenaventura. Another important project is for the construction of a new bridge connecting Buenaventura with Cascajal Island, which is due for completion in the second half of this year.