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The article reports on the construction of the Manaus-Iranduba Bridge, the fourth-longest bridge in Brazil. The bridge, being built by the Rio Negro Consortium, is intended to boost economic development in the Amazon and is an effort of the Amazonas state government. Regional planners hope that the completed bridge will open a new industrial district in Iranduba. Environmentalists have also expressed concern over the destruction of the Amazon rainforest that may result from the construction of the bridge.

The article reports on the near completion of the Foz do Chapecó hydroelectric plant in Brazil. The final phase of the project, a rockfill dam, was completed in April 2010. Asphalt, instead of clay, was used as the main component of the sealing nucleus. According to Miguel Zerbini, technical director of Chapecó Energia, asphalt allows for faster construction.

The article deals with the dispute between the Brazilian Agency of Land Transportation (ANTT) and the national Audit Court of Brazil (TCU) over procurement rules, delaying the bidding process for the construction of a high-speed railroad in Brazil. So as not to constrain technology choices, ANTT wanted fewer detailed requirements than did the court. The project's revised terms include down-scaling the project's maximum allowed cost, and the restriction of raising fares to compensate for weaker-than-expected forecast revenues.

The article reports on the floods and mudslides which killed 249 people in Rio de Janeiro and outlying metropolitan area in Brazil in April 2010. According to fire department officials, Niterói city has the highest toll of mortalities. Having studied flood-related disasters, the Geosciences Institute of the University of Brasília identified poor urban planning and the clearing of natural vegetation from hilltops as the possible causes of the disasters.

The article reports on the plan of Brazil to construct a high-speed-rail system for the Olympic Games in 2014. It notes that government intends to issue a concessionaire contract in May 2010 for a high-speed-rail system to connect the cities of Campinas, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. It notes that the estimated cost of the construction project is 19.3 billion U.S. dollars. It states that a specially formed company called TAV Brasil will finance the project.