Italian market up in Q1 for 2019
17% to reach 3,178 units in the first quarter of 2019 compared to Q1 last year.
In more detail, 3,058 of the units sold were earth-moving machines with the rest being 120 road equipment.
“The growth of the Italian market in the first quarter it a very positive signal,” said Antonio Strati, councillor of Unacea, the Italian Construction Equipment Association which also has responsibility for statistics activities.
“Although concerns remain over the general economic trend, we expect that the awaited
Multi-tasking drivers are at greater risk of crashing
Research from the US reveals that multi-tasking drivers are at a greater risk of crashes. The information comes from US driver risk management firm Lytx, which announced new data regarding commercial driving and distraction during the National Safety Council's Distracted Driving Awareness Month, in April 2019. A minimum of nine people in the US die in crashes due to distracted driving every day. Distraction is the second leading cause of fatal truck crashes in commercial vehicle fleet. Lytx has found that 2
Concern over road safety problems in Europe
A range of issues are affecting road safety in Europe.
A range of issues are affecting road safety in Europe.
In France there is concern at the estimate of 68,000 drivers who do not hold a valid license. This represents an increase over previous years and now accounts for around 1.4% of the total number of drivers in the country, according to the data from road safety body, Prevention Routiere. As perhaps is to be expected, the crash statistics for these unlicensed drivers are worrying, with them being
Costa Rica road project facing delays?
A major road project in Costa Rica is now facing delays. The widening project for Route 32 is being carried out by the Chinese contractor China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC). However the land required for a significant portion of the project has not yet been secured by Costa Rica’s Ministry for Public Works and Transportation (MOPT).
It is not now clear whether the road widening work will be completed within the intended schedule. So far just 10% of the work required for the whole project has so fa
Sweden appoints Veidekke Anläggning to Förbifart Stockholm work
Sweden’s transport administration Trafikverket has appointed Veidekke Anläggning as a temporary contractor for work on the Lovön section of the Stockholm Bypass - Förbifart Stockholm.
The deal is worth around €9.6 million.
The contractor will take over work started by a tender winner whose contract has been cancelled, according to Swedish media. It is expected the new contractor will be on site until the end of the year, by which time Trafikverket says it hopes to have re-tendered the remaining work.
Rescued Spanish motorways generate income for Seittsa agency
The eight motorways taken over by the Spanish government management agency Seittsa generated nearly €37 million in profit last year, according to national media.
Seittsa said the money will be used for maintenance of the formerly private motorways.
Among the revenues collected was around €3.8 in tolls from vehicles on the M-12 connecting Madrid to the airport.
Financial close reached on Ontario’s Highway 401 expansion
Financial close has been reached by the West Corridor Constructors consortium on the US$494.46 million Highway 401 Expansion project near Toronto, Canada.
West Corridor Constructors consists of Canadian construction firm Aecon which holds 50%, US-based building products firm Amico, which holds 20%, and US-based infrastructure engineering firm Parson, which holds 30%.
The Highway 401 Expansion is a redevelopment and widening project between Regional Road 25 in the towns of Milton and Credit River in th
Preparations begin for Bosnia’s A1 motorway construction
Bosnian motorways company Autoceste Federacije says that preparations have started for construction of one of the most expensive parts of the A1 motorway.
The project, costing around US$16 million per kilometre, will start on the 5.3km sub-road Vranduk-Pionirak – total value nearly $88.5 million.
Work, which is being done by the consortium of Azerbaijani Azvirt and Bosnian Hering, includes a tunnel in central Bosnia./
The road is part of the pan European Corridor VC highway which runs from Budapesi
Kenya highway project receives Chinese funding
A key Kenyan highway project is being funded by Chinese sources. The JKIA-James Gichuru expressway in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, is receiving a financing package worth US$505.5 million from China. The new expressway will be built by the Chinese contractor, China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC). The aim of the project is to reduce congestion on the existing Mombasa highway. The new link will also include lanes specifically for bus rapid transit (BRT) .
Euro Auctions completes new Leeds facilities in the UK
Euro Auctions reports that its revamped facilities at Leeds in England are nearing completion including a new auction arena and sales ramp.
Other improved areas include new workshops, office and main administration centre and a 2,380m² jet wash bay. When fully finished Euro Auctions says the Leeds facility will be the largest auction site Europe and ready for an event this summer.
Euro Auctions also reports that it has recently been instructed by administrators at Grant Thornton to dispose of the asse
Paraguay bridge deal agreed
A funding package is being provided for the second bridge crossing the Parana River in Paraguay.
Euro Auctions completes new Leeds facilities in the UK
Euro Auctions reports that its revamped facilities at Leeds in England are nearing completion including a new auction arena and sales ramp.
Other improved areas include new workshops, office and main administration centre and a 2,380m² jet wash bay. When fully finished Euro Auctions says the Leeds facility will be the largest auction site Europe and ready for an event this summer.
Euro Auctions also reports that it has recently been instructed by administrators at Grant Thornton to dispose of the asse
Severn Bridge resurfacing complete
Contractor Hanson has completed the latest phase of its resurfacing work on the Severn bridges following the removal of the toll booths and barriers.
The contract for Highways England started in December 2018, when the tolls were abolished on the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge and M48 Severn Bridge, and resurfacing was needed for the new road layout. The move to provide free access for drivers from England into Wales is aimed at boosting the Welsh economy.
Over the last few weeks Hanson has laid more than
Nigeria road project; funding approved
Funding has been approved for an important road project in Nigeria’s Ebonyi State.
Malaysia elevated highway project due to commence
Work will commence on Malaysia’s new elevated highway construction at the beginning of September 2019. The 5.7km highway stretch will feature two lanes in either direction and will be constructed in Malaysia’s Penang State. It will provide a link between the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway and Air Itam, with 70% of the route being elevated. The new link will feature three major interchanges and should take three years to construct.
Côte d'Ivoire, fourth capital bridge project
A new bridge project in Côte d'Ivoire capital Abidjan is now receiving a key funding package.
Malaysia to tender for more Pan Borneo sections
The Malaysian government will soon tender for three more sections of the 706km Pan Borneo Highway project in the state of Sabah.
The Pan Borneo Highway - also known as Trans-Borneo Highway or Trans-Kalimantan Highway - is a road network on Borneo Island connecting the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak to the country of Brunei and Indonesia’s Kalimantan region. The length of the section within the Malaysian states is likely to be just under 2,100km.
The Bruneian section is 168km and the Indonesian
New Colombian bridge to set records
The Pumarejo Bridge project in Colombia will beat records for Latin America when complete at the end of 2019. Measuring 38.1m in cross-section, it will be the widest bridge in Latin America when it opens to traffic and will measure 3.24km-long. The bridge will have three lanes in either direction, as well as provision for cyclists and pedestrians. The construction work is being carried out by the consortium SES Puente Magdalena, headed by Spanish company Sacyr and also including the Colombian contractor, Es
New South Wales backpedals over WestConnex cycling bridge
Controversy has again hit Australia’s WestConnex project in Sydney with media reports the a planned cycle and pedestrian bridge is to be axed.
In its place will be a new raised flyover running through the residential and parkland area, according to a report in The Age newspaper.
The Pedestrian and Cycling Green Link was part of the original planning permission for the US$11.85 billion WestConnex project and was to rise above parts of the surface motorway in Rozelle and Lilyfield neighbourhoods.
The
Paruvian road concession package cancelled
The concession package for Peru’s Vía Expresa Sur road project is being cancelled. The deal was originally awarded to the Peruvian company, Grana y Montero (GyM). However the involvement of Brazilian firm Odebrecht in the project have resulted in the deal being cancelled. Odebrecht has been linked to string of corruption scandals. The tender process for the 5km road section will be reopened as a result. The project is intended to cut journey times in Lima, with the work expected to cost US$200 million.