Friday round-up: Clever Swiss bridge | OEMs’ software race | Data centre boom

First off this week, we have two videos of an innovative bridge in Switzerland that allows traffic to flow keep flowing on the country’s busiest highway, even as resurfacing works take place underneath it.

Recently optimised and put back into service near Zürich, watch how the bridge allows construction workers to work safely below traffic travelling at up to 60kmh.

Last week, we examined the opportunities and challenges of a data centre building boom. And confirming just how much construction work data centres are generating, the last few days have seen news of a $3bn Microsoft AI hub in Wisconsin and a major contract win for Skanska in Georgia, USA.

And finally, this week’s news gave us another insight into just how important a part software technology plays in modern construction equipment, as Volvo CE gobbled up a US-based software firm specialising in machine monitoring and tech support, while John Deere unveiled new open-platform electronic controls backed up by new software.

Image of the week

The Liebherr LB30 unplugged drilling rig in Calgary, Canada (Image: Liebherr)

Contractors have put the first Liebherr LB30 unplugged battery-powered electric drilling rig in Canada to the test as part of the construction of a new pedestrian overpass. Click here for more and to watch a video of the machine in operation.