Hampton Roads Connector selected for $3.3bn HRBT project in Virginia

Hampton Roads Connector Partners was selected by the Virginia state government in the US to complete the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT) expansion project.

The $3.3bn fixed-price contract will be formally awarded in April, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). The project is expected to be completed by November 2025.

Hampton Roads Connector was chosen through competitive procurement, which started in December 2017 and lasted nearly one year.


China building 5G smart highway in Wuhan

Chinese state-owned telecommunication company China Mobile revealed plans to build a 5G smart highway project in Wuhan in Hubei province.

The first 5G smart highway project in the country is currently under construction. Once it is complete, the telecommunications company plans to introduce 5G services on the highway, starting with ‘smart toll stations’ that could replace the present equipment and human operators.


WSDOT to open $3.3bn SR 99 tunnel for passengers in Seattle

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) was set to open the $3.3bn two-mile SR 99 tunnel for motorists in Seattle, US.

The double-decker tunnel will carry State Route 99 (SR 99) under Downtown Seattle from SoDo in the south to South Lake Union in the north.

Reportedly the longest road tunnel in the US, the structure was built to replace the 60-year-old Alaskan Way Viaduct and can withstand a nine-magnitude earthquake.


Continual partners with HERE Technologies for connected travel

Location and mapping service company HERE Technologies teamed up with data analytics firm Continual to develop a solution for mobile network operators (MNO) to monitor and map the connected experience of travelling users.

As part of the collaboration, Continual will integrate HERE Cellular Signals and HERE Traffic Analytics into its Mobility Experience Analytics solution to deliver a wide range of benefits to MNOs.

HERE Cellular Signals accurately correlates accumulated information on mobile network performance onto roads, while HERE Traffic Analytics offers visibility on road traffic patterns.


Delhi Police and Maruti Suzuki launch traffic violation detector

Car maker Maruti Suzuki unveiled its ‘Red Light Violation Detection and Speed Violation Detection System’ (RLVDS and SVDS) to catch offending motorists in collaboration with Delhi Police in India.

The detection system has been installed at nine signalised junctions on a 14km corridor between Dhaula Kuan and Sarai Kale Khan on the Ring Road in Delhi.

It is said to be the first system of its kind in the National Capital Region.


UK to invest £1.4bn to improve Black Cat roundabout

The UK Government invested £1.4bn to build a brand new ten-mile (16km) dual carriageway to connect Caxton Gibbet roundabout near Cambourne with Black Cat roundabout.

The project will help motorists travelling on the congested A428 to drive smoothly as it will become a local road, serving communities between St Neots and Caxton Gibbet.

Highways England said that there are plans to create a three-tier junction at the Black Cat in Bedfordshire, which will allow seamless passage through the junction while keeping the roundabout clear for other drivers who will take turns between the roads.


Hobart City Deal provides $522m to improve transport infrastructure

Australian Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population Alan Tudge announced a combined A$730m ($522.55m) package to help cut congestion and improve transport infrastructure in Hobart City in Tasmania.

From the total $522.55m funding, nearly A$486m ($347.89m) will come from the Government of Australia, while nearly A$221m ($158.21m) will be provided by the Tasmanian Government.

As part of the overall package, the Greater Hobart councils will also contribute A$23m ($16.47m) to the ‘Greater Hobart Transport Vision’.


Dubai to introduce smart traffic control system by mid-2020

Dubai revealed plans to launch an artificial intelligence (AI) powered integrated smart traffic system by mid-2020 to help predict and manage the vehicle flow, prepare fast response plans and take real-time decisions in the event of collisions.

The smart traffic control system is also intended to improve road safety and support mobility around the city.

The announcement was made by Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) director-general Mattar Al Tayer during the plenary session on ‘The Future of Mobility in the Age of 4IR (4th Industrial Revolution)’ at the World Government Summit (WGS).


UK to introduce system for advanced trials of fully autonomous cars

The UK’s Department for Transport unveiled plans to support advanced trials of self-driving cars, as it seeks to have fully autonomous cars on the roads by 2021.

To achieve its goal, the government is in the process of developing a support system that will allow advanced trials for driverless cars on any public road.

Cars will be fully autonomous without a steering wheel and driver.


Singapore awards $456.7m contract for NSC tunnels

Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) awarded a S$615.9m ($456.7m) contract to Shanghai Tunnel Engineering for construction of a section of the North-South Corridor (NSC) tunnels.

Under the contract, Shanghai Tunnel Engineering will be responsible for constructing an 800m-long dual three-lane road for the NSC tunnels.

Work also includes construction of an MRT station box and commuter facilities, including pedestrian bridges, bus stops, sheltered walkways and cycling paths between Sin Ming Avenue and Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3.