Road Structures

Advances in bridge monitoring technology should help ensure structural safety Highly productive, Fugro Aperio's ground penetrating radar system offers accurate scanning of bridge condition Bridge engineers can now benefit from a new technology designed to pinpoint shallow targets, such as masonry fixings, reinforcement bars or delamination between thin layers. This uses the latest high resolution ground penetrating radar (GPR) antenna and has been developed by Cambridge-based Fugro Aperio in the UK. Operati

A new Liebherr Compactmix 1.0 plant is being used as part of a process in the manufacture of pre-fabricated concrete components. The Compactmix 1.0 compact mixing system was bought by a facility in Türkheim, Germany and its versatility has helped in integrating the unit into the plant's existing production hall. A conveyor belt for the concrete links the mixing system to the prefabricated part production section. The Liebherr ring-pan mixer Type RIM-M is equipped with a mechanical agitator system, and along

The Auckland Harbour Bridge is at the stage that it cannot cope with much more traffic, yet the population of the Auckland region continues to grow at a steady rate. Coupled with that, the bridge is a key link in the most important transport corridor in the country, State Highway One. Without it, the country would struggle to function. Not only home to New Zealand's largest city and one third of its population, Auckland's port is one of the country's largest. Some 140m north of the city is Marsden Point, th

How will the deep cuts hitting France's national budget affect French roads and highways? Gordon Feller discusses France has one of the most modern transport systems in Europe, the result of decades of public spending on the sector as well as other infrastructure. The government historically has awarded contracts to build infrastructure to French construction and engineering companies, some of which are now among the world's largest contractors. Among other achievements, France's infrastructure programme re

The multi-span reinforced concrete viaduct at Torano, about 100km east of the Italian capital Rome, is a major structure on the main E80/A24/A25 Autostrada crossing central Italy. The Viadotto Fiume Salto was opened in the late 1960s, but the use of de-icing salts during winter months has since caused considerable calcium chloride damage to the structure forcing the Italian Highways Authority and the Autostrada di Parchi's owner Toto to carry out extensive repairs. The renovation estimated at around €5 mill

The Indonesian Government has handed out contracts for the new Sunda Strait Bridge. Construction of the US$11 billion project is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2014. The preliminary work now starting includes a feasibility study and the first stages of the design process, with specialist consultants having been contracted for this work. The bridge will measure some 29km long and will connect Lampung in Sumatra and Merak in Java, crossing the Sunda Strait as its name suggests. The structure wil

Barin is supplying a new underbridge inspection platform to a Canadian customer, as well as a unit to a firm in Russia. The ABC190/L for Canada is the first machine Barin has supplied to the country and the customer is rental company Jenik Construction, based in St Mathieu de Veloil. The platform is mounted on a five axle Freightliner M2-112 truck chassis and can operate from a single lane of traffic. It offers a bridge barrier clearance of 4.4m, a pavement/sidewalk clearance of 4.4m and a horizontal underb

The Danish consultant Cowi is working on a study for Norway’s Rogfast Tunnel, which will be the world's longest and deepest tunnel. The 25km tunnel is planned to open to traffic in 2021. It will cost some €1.08 billion to construct. Cowi has landed contracts for preliminary studies but is also keen to take on a portion of detailed planning.

Works on Serbia’s Strazevica tunnel is due for completion in May 2012. The tunnel forms part of the Belgrade ring road. Serbia’s government is also planning to finish the construction of a total of 200km of the Corridor 10 motorway, following the completion of the Strazevica–Bubanj and Batajnica–Dobanovci sections. Work on the remaining 130km will commence soon. Meanwhile, work on the Ljig–Preljina section of Corridor 11 is now underway.

Halcrow has been appointed by Transport Scotland to develop a bridge operating company contract to manage and maintain the new Forth Replacement Crossing and the existing Forth Road Bridge. The £1.6million commission, won in the face of stiff competition under Transport Scotland’s multiple framework agreement, runs to December 2014. “Halcrow’s proven expertise as a client advisor helped us to deliver a winning proposition that targeted our client’s needs,” said Donald Bell, Halcrow’s client manager. “Our ro