Road Structures

Mexico’s road development programme for 2014 is well on track. According to the Secretariat of Communications and Transport in (SCT), some 92% of the budget set for road projects in 2014 has already been implemented. The SCT is now moving forward with its plans for road projects in 2015. The tender process for major contracts will be opening from mid-November 2014. A budget of some US$1.92 billion is being planned for road projects in 2015, a significant increase from the $1.15 billion set for 2014. The fir

Work is now to go ahead on upgrading a key stretch of the A21 road in the UK. Contractor Balfour Beatty will handle the work to widen a stretch of the A21 between Tonbridge and Pembury and also improve the road, with it becoming a dual carriageway. The €87.55 million (£69.7 million) scheme forms part of a plan by the UK Government for a series of road improvements of €30.15 billion (£24 billion) by 2021. Advance work is expected to start in the third quarter of this year with the main construction activity

A consortium of contractors comprising Teixeira Duarte and EPOS will handle the construction of Portugal’s Marao Tunnel. The consortium won the tender with a bid of €88.1 million. The tunnel will measure 5.9km long when complete. Separate deals for other sections of the route have also been awarded. The section at Amarante will be handled by Opway, which offered a €29.5 million bid. A consortium comprising contractors Ferrovial and Lena will handle the Vila real section, having offered a bid of €28.8 millio

In Serbia plans are moving ahead with work on the Zezeljev Bridge. The structure will provide a new crossing over the Danube River for the city of Novi Sad. The new bridge replaces an old structure carrying both rail and road links that was destroyed by bombing in 1999. Construction of the new bridge forms part of an EU strategy for the Danube Region. The current cost of the new bridge has not been disclosed although an estimate in 2010 pegged the pricetag at some €60million. The 470m long by 25m wide struc

In Mexico work is now underway on the La Marquesa-Toluca highway. The project is costing some US$269.5 million in all. The construction is due for completion in December 2015. The work is being carried out jointly on the first stretch of the highway by Spanish contractor OHL working in partnership with local company La Peninsular.

Research carried out by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety (Miros) reveals cause for concern with an expected increase in the annual fatality rate. The number of road crash deaths in the country currently stands at an average of 18 people/day. But that rate is expected to increase to an average of 29/day according to the research. In 2020, the annual death toll on the country’s road network is expected to hit 10,716 compared with the 6,915 deaths/year recorded in recent years. Of the total number of fat

Chile’s Ministry of Public Works is investigating its options with regard to an alternative road to Route 68. The road connects capital Santiago with the country's fifth region. The new road is one of several projects listed in the road concessions packages set out by the Ministry of Public Works for 2020. An upgrade to this road link is required as Route 68 suffers heavy congestion at peak periods and particularly over long weekends or holidays. The project could cost in the region of US$200 million in all