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Concrete paving is now benefiting from the use of sophisticated machine control tools to deliver accuracy and high-quality surfaces Heavy use of concrete roads and runways over time will reveal any flaws in workmanship, the invasion of water, or the wear from use. Discolouration, scaling, crazing, cracking, or curling will sometimes occur due to a poor ready-mix batch, inadequate curing procedure, subgrade settlement, or improper bonding of the finish layer. Concrete surfaces are generally very durab

An innovative surface treatment approach by Foster Contracting Limited has been developed for use on a £745million roads project in Aberdeen, Scotland. The specialist contractor, Foster Contracting Limited (FCL), has played a key role in a major project, to build the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie-Tipperty (AWPR/B-T). AWPR Construction Joint Venture, the contractor appointed to design and construct the project, approached FCL to provide a customised treatment to remove the latency from the sl

A Swiss-designed system for the diversion of traffic away from road maintenance crews could be revolutionary, reports David Arminas Switzerland will soon tender for companies to build and supply a mobile system for physically shifting traffic away from bridge and road maintenance crews. The federal highways agency - FEDRO - will be asking manufacturers of heavy equipment to submit bids starting this summer for the Astra Bridge system. The system will be two lanes wide and include ramp sections at e

An array of advanced earthmoving machines are coming to market, offering increased performance, lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions The global market for earthmoving machines has been particularly strong over the last year. Demand for new equipment has been at a high, with sales of crawler excavators proving especially robust. Manufacturers have responded by increasing output, while tempting customers with new models offering major performance gains. Dozers In the market for dozers, Caterp

Meeting in Costa Navarino (Greece) in the margins of the ASECAP Days, the General Assembly of the International Road Federation (IRF) has unanimously elected Bill M Halkias, PE, F.ASCE, F.ITE as new president of IRF. He takes over from Kiran K Kapila at the end of his third and final mandate as IRF chairman. Halkias brings to the IRF 38 years of experience in transportation and road infrastructure works gained both in the USA and in Europe. Currently managing director and CEO of Attikes Diadromes SA, the

Canadian contractor Stantec is to lead design work for a 16km upgrade and widening of State Road 91 in the US state of Florida. Work will turn the section of road through Lake County into price-managed lanes for improved travel reliability, according to the company which will be working for Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, part of the Florida Department of Transportation. Turnpike Enterprise operates a 740km-system of limited access toll highways Stantec’s design for the project, with a construction cos

The soon-to-be mandatory speed limiters on vehicles in the European Union will make all safety other features more efficient, according the UK-based Transport Research Laboratory. In March the European Parliament passed a law that safety features such as intelligent speed assistance and advanced emergency-braking system must be installed in new vehicles from May 2022. They form part of the EU’s new suite of safety measures. TRL, which provided input for the European Commission regarding the formulatio

On the back of a record-breaking event in 2018 the organisers of the UK’s Hillhead Exhibition have extended the event once again for 2020. The 2018 event was supported by 546 exhibitors and attracted an independently audited attendance of nearly 20,000. With outdoor space on track to be sold out by late autumn, an additional 2,200m² of stand space has been created in the quarry floor by extending the showground into the quarry face demonstration area. Hillhead 2020 takes place from 23–25 June, 202

Bunting Magnetics celebrated 60 years in business by supplying a one of the largest quarries in the US state of Georgia with a Bunting PCB1206-EL Permanent Crossbelt Separator.

Charity organisation iRap (International Road Assessment Programme) is celebrating reaching 100 countries including Brazil, Iceland and China. The charity works with its partners to save lives and prevent serious injuries on the world’s roads.

The Albanian parliament has approved a public-private partnership (PPP) deal worth nearly €214 million for a 17km section of motorway between Milot and Balldre.

Slovakia is to invest around €2.9 billion to improve roads in the economically depressed coal-mining region Upper Nitra. Work will include upgrades and repairs to 150km of dual carriageways and motorways in order to attract businesses other than those associated with mining which is being gradually closed. The improved road infrastructure will connect existing and planned business and commercial parks and zones, according to local media. Towns near the R2 dual carriageway, including Handlova, Novaky a

Completion of Prague’s outer ring-road connecting the D1 motorway with Běchovice town to the north should be in 2024, a year earlier than planned. Czech prime minister Andrej Babiš made the announcement, saying the 2025 date set by the Czech Highway Authority was too far off, according to local media. The national Czech News Agency reported that the 12.5km section will cost around €365 million. Transport minister Vladimíra Kremlík said that the state will have to acquire land from up to 500 land ow

Brazil has set out plans for a massive programme of transport infrastructure development. This will see extensive works being handled until 2022. In all 16,000km of road works will be carried out, as well as a number of rail improvements and upgrades. External investment is being sought for many of the major projects.

The first so-called Texas U-Turn in the US state of California has opened as part of the Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement project at Long Beach. The design enables trucks and other vehicles to make a safe and free-flowing U-turn at the west end of the project at the port access undercrossing, a second tunnel near the intersection of Ocean Boulevard and State Route 47 (SR-47) on Terminal Island. The Texas U-turn - named because it is a common feature at intersections in the state of Texas - enables ve

A new sea crossing is planned for Saudi Arabia. The 3.3km link will connect with a new commercial and residential development project located at Shurayrah.. The crossing will feature two causeways connected by a section of bridge and will connect with a hub island featuring new properties. The designers say that the sea crossing is being so as not to impede water flow and also so as to minimise impact to sea live in the area.

New loans will help pay for road building in India’s Kerala State. The World Bank is providing a package of loans worth US$216 million. This will be used to upgrade and widen 363km of roads in Kerala State. The work forms part of the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP), specifically for the second phase of the State Highway corridor programme.

Indonesia is planning to construct more tolled highways as well as bridges. One novel proposal is for a new tolled road that will run along the sea dike protecting the Jakarta Coast. This new road is intended to lower congestion levels in North Jakarta by providing an alternative route to existing links. Indonesia’s Transport Ministry is working with the Korea International Partnership Agency and the Dutch Water and Infrastructure Management Agency on the National Capital Integrated Coastal Development (NC

A major long term financing package has been secured for highway projects in India. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will benefit from a credit package worth nearly US$ 3.4 billion. This is being provided by the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). The deal involves bonds issued for a 30-year period. India has also announced plans to continue with its massive road development programme. By 2024/25, the $10.8 billion road development programme will have extended the country’s network b

The UK’s driving test has been made far tougher in recent times, in a bid to boost safety. Some people take up to 21 attempts to pass their practical test, according to data from the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). The information covers every year between 2009 and 2018. In 2016, one driver passed at the 21st attempt in one year. Another driver took 19 attempts to pass in 2018. Meanwhile one learner failed 19 tests in 2009, 2015 and 2017. The car driving test pass rate was 45.8% for the 2018/