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IRF Geneva's statistics guru, Cristian Gonzalez, explores the growing importance of data in public and private assessments of transport projects IRF's work on statistics is rarely in the limelight. It is, however, an essential component of the federation's key advocacy role on behalf of its members. Statistics are, indeed, a vital function of authoritative lobbying and knowledge sharing on the range of issues impacting our sector - from highlighting the persuasive economic business cases for investment in

A US$137.6 million investment is being targeted at the Pan Borneo Highway connecting the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah. This investment will be supplied by Malaysia’s Federal Government. Overtaking lanes will be built at critical locations along the 207km stretch linking Bintulu and Miri as well as the 217km stretch connecting Bintulu and Sibu.

Michelin North America (MNA) has revealed plans for a new earthmover tyre plant in the United States as part of a $750million expansion set to create up to 500 manufacturing jobs. News of the proposed new site in Anderson County, South Carolina, comes after MNA revealed they would also be expanding their existing earthmover tyre plant in Lexington, also in South Carolina.

Work on Indonesia’s new Kartasura-Kebakkramat toll road is due for completion in 2014. The Public Works Ministry expects to complete the land acquisition process during this year. The budget for the project has not been disclosed so far. When it is complete, the 22km toll road project will connect with the Kertosono (East Java)-Surakarta (Central Java) toll road.

Sweden’s National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) is publishing a new report showing ways to improve road safety. Of note is the fact that the report does not recommend a ban on mobile phone use while driving. Instead, VTI believes that a package measures can train and support drivers to manage communications more safety. According to VTI, this will be more effective than a ban on the use of cell phones at the wheel. VTI claims that more information will enable drivers to understand when it is d

Demolition is a highly specialised business, as the machinery required to carry out the work on high-rise demolition contracts can be very site specific. Today's high reach demolition rig is no longer simply a tracked excavator with a long boom, indeed some machines cannot be used as excavators at all. Likewise a machine that is dedicated to carrying a 2.5 or 3tonne shear or hammer will need to be built to take the stresses and strains of demolition life. Many of the ultra long boom machines are designed

Delays in the award process will see awards for major road projects in Colombia. The road authority Invias has said it is holding back the award of road projects forming part of a concession package put until late April 2012. The contracts are for maintenance works on roads in various parts of Colombia. Bids have been placed bySolarte Solarte, Conalvias, Construcciones El Condor, Mario Alberto Huertas Cotes and Hidalgo e Hidalgo have submitted their own proposals for these projects. In all there are 16 sepa

Mexican construction firm Impulsora del Desarrollo y el Empleo en America Latina (Ideal) has won a major US$623.4 million contract to construct the Macrolibramiento de Guadalajara link in the country. This link is for a large-scale ring road in Mexico’s Guadalajara metropolitan zone.

Ferocious daytime temperatures can provide a tough challenge to construction firms working in desert conditions in Egypt's south. Despite the high daytime temperatures however, Egyptian contractor Orascom has managed to complete an airport project on budget and ahead of schedule, while meeting the client's tight specifications. The firm has just completed the project to revamp Suhag Airport in the south of the country. This airport now features a new runway, taxiways and aircraft hard standing, as well as n

New demolition tolls are coming to market while safety training for high reach excavator operators has been established With the Intermat equipment exhibition due shortly, various manufacturers are offering new demolition tools to the market. Meanwhile the UK's National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC) is now setting a lead in the sector by offering a high reach excavator training course. The NFDC has partnered with the National Demolition Training Group (NDTG) to develop the world's first train

XCMG has developed several new products including a new wheeled excavator, an asphalt plant and new rigid dump truck models. The ET110 excavator is a versatile machine with its wheels mounted on hydraulically adjustable arms that allow the unit to operate on uneven terrain and on slopes. The new XAP320 asphalt plant is a fourth generation machine that is said to feature considerable performance upgrades over the firm’s previous units.

Both France and Turkey have seen road safety improvements. In Turkey the latest data shows a slight fall in traffic accident fatalities. A recent National Police Department (NPD) research from Turkey indicates that over 10 people die/day in traffic accidents in the country. The research spans the period from 1985 to the end of 2011 and reveals that 3,440,635 were injured in traffic accidents and 152,468 people were killed. But by adding people who died in hospital afterwards, the death count is expected to

Work on Latvia’s E22 highway is now delayed. Called the Moscow highway, delays will afflict the Riga-Koknese section of the E22. The opening of this section now looks likely to be delayed until 2014. The initial deadline for the project was to be late 2012. Land issues held back widening work but there are now disputes between the local authorities and the contractor. The delay has left unfinished and unusable main road sections in various areas.

According to E-Z Drill, its Model 210 drill attachment series offers versatility and performance.The three model series is compatible with most model of backhoes and excavators and the pneumatic drills offer specially-designed features for maximum productivity and reduced maintenance. The units are capable of drilling 15.9-63.5mm holes, at a depth of 457mm.

Construction procurement agreements have been signed with the authorities handling the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge project. The project is worth US$11.56 billion and is is designed to have a lifespan of 120 years. The 50km bridge is planned to open for traffic in 2016 and will connect Zhuhai in China’s Guangdong Province with Macau and Hong Kong. Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry and China Railway Shanhaiguan Bridge Group have signed contracts in connection with the project. The bridge is designed to be able

Close to Sweden's second largest city Göthenburg lies the efficient Jehander quarrying operation run by Heidelberg Cement. The site produces around 9,000tonnes/day at peak seasonal demand and has an output of some 1,000,000tonnes/year. The site has recently renewed its operating permission and now has the necessary approval to work until 2021. Niklas Osvaldsson is regional manager for Heidelberg Cement and said, "Since early 2000 this has been part of the Heidelberg Group." Stone production originally st

A new study carried out by the UK’s Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) highlights the increased risks resulting from drivers using smartphones while at the wheel. Previous research shows that using a mobile phone while driving impairs driving performance. But with smartphones now becoming more common, an increasing number of drivers are able to engage in a broad range of activities using their phone while at the wheel. The TRL’s study investigated whether there was an effect of social networking using a sm

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.

XCMG has developed several new products including a new wheeled excavator, an asphalt plant and new rigid dump truck models. The ET110 excavator is a versatile machine with its wheels mounted on hydraulically adjustable arms that allow the unit to operate on uneven terrain and on slopes. The new XAP320 asphalt plant is a fourth generation machine that is said to feature considerable performance upgrades over the firm’s previous units.

A huge highway upgrade project will transform the Cairo-Alexandria road link into a world-class connection as Mike Woof reports. The work to upgrade the Desert Highway connecting Egypt's sprawling capital Cairo with its major port Alexandria, is one of the country's largest infrastructure projects for many years. This 220km highway link is being widened and improved to cope with the hugely increased traffic volumes resulting partly from Egypt's fast growing vehicle population. The Egyptian economy is strong