Paving on Algeria's mega highway
A fleet of 53 Dynapac machines is being used by a Chinese consortium to build the central and western sections of the 1,216km Algerian East-West Expressway. The consortium comprises CITIC and CRCC and was awarded the contract for the 169km central and 359km western sections of highway.
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Car owners and sales people in Afghanistan are struggling to come to terms with the changing whims of personal taste in this conservative country. Car sales are growing fast, however customers are now averse to buying vehicles with the number 39 in the licence plate. The number has been linked to a notorious figure in iran's criminal underworld, known for his expensive car and which bears the number 39. The man is now nicknamed number 39 and as his notoriety has grown, so drivers in afghanistan's capital Ka
French highway package
A new PPP deal has been signed in France for the financing, design, construction, service and maintenance on a 15-year land-use bypass road southwest of Vichy.
Safe solution
A new Swedish safety device can reduce risks for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. The Amparo SeeMe warning system is said to reduce traffic speeds and raise driver awareness for cyclists or at pedestrian crossings. The system links an automatic radio tag carried by the pedestrian or cyclist to trigger solar-powered lights on bus stops or at crossings, to provide warnings to drivers.
PEDESTRIANS WITH WINGS
A group of Canadian visitors to the US state of Washington recently received safety aid from the forces of law and order. the Washington state troopers assisted a gaggle of canada geese to safety after drivers spotted the birds on a busy stretch of road. The state troopers reacted by closing two lanes of traffic and then assisted the birds in leaving the highway at the next exit. the containment procedure took just 20 minutes and the birds were able to exit the road unharmed by their experience.
Anniversary for highway
It is now 25 years since the UK's M25 motorway opened to traffic.
Brazilian bridge to the beach
The State of Pernambuco in north-eastern Brazil has some of the country's most beautiful beaches, and on the peninsula of Cabo de Santo Agostinho a luxury resort has sprung up with apartments (condominios) and hotels for international tourists. To give the resort a convenient, fast link to the coastal highway, the Via Parque consortium is building a bridge over the Jaboatão River, which separates the peninsula from the mainland.
Cleaner deal from Superior Industries
A new and more durable belt cleaner is available from conveyor specialist Superior Industries. This belt scraper is designed to offer extended cleaning capabilities and fewer change-outs. The Exterra cleaner features more urethane and is said to offer a bulky profile and a beefy tip, all of which extends life.
ARTBA reports green success in US
A new report from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) says that the US transportation sector has been instrumental in improving the country's environment over the past 40 years.
Four towed scrapers added to Cat line
The addition of four towed-scraper models to the Cat product line positions Caterpillar as the leading manufacturer of hauling systems for the earthmoving industry, claims the company. The new models, TS180 and TS220 with two rear wheels and TS185 and TS225 with four rear wheels, feature an innovative, heavy-duty design and large load capacities for durable productivity in construction applications.
Multifunction's final testing
The first batch of 24 New Holland E245B Multifunction military green crawler excavators for the Italian Army has been given its final testing at the San Mauro Torinese plant in Italy. New Holland Construction employees were present as well as technicians from the Testing Commission of UTT Turin
International firms handling Mozambique contract
Work is now starting on t first phase of a 348km road construction project in Mozambique to link Nampula with Cuamba.
SMOPYC success
The organisers of the recent SMOPYC event in Spain claim that the show was highly successful, beating targets initially set.
Powerful performer
The new four cylinder 3.4 litre diesel from Perkins Engines completes the firm's Tier 4 Interim/Stage IIIB product line-up. The 854 Series is said to offer improved power density in a compact package to suit an array of applications. This engine comes in addition to the 1200 Series, which was recently introduced.
Australian firm operating in Hong Kong
A road infrastructure project worth US$172 million will be carried out in Hong Kong.
Key highway link for Italy
Work is to commence shortly in Italy on a major highway construction project worth more than €490 million.
Innovative Q-Free electronic enforcement system planned for Jakarta
PT Rin and Q-Free have signed a contract for delivery of an electronic law enforcement (ELE) system for Jakarta (DKI) and greater area of Jakarta (Bodetabek).
Perkins opens test facility
Diesel engine producer Perkins has now opened its research facility, an operation in which the firm has invested some €21.2 million (£19 million).
US road safety improvement
The US Department of Transportation reports that road deaths fell by 9.7% to 33,808 in 2009, compared with 37,423 in 2008.
Noise mapping using Dynamic Search
Braunstein + Berndt has released a new SoundPLAN version, SoundPLAN 7.0, and a main feature of this is the new calculation core employing the Dynamic Search scanning method. This, according to the company, makes it possible to calculate anything, no matter how complex the geometry and no matter what size the project.