M4 upgrade project reaches half way stage
Highways England has reported good progress with the M4 upgrade, with the project mow reaching the halfway stage. Creating extra lanes on the M4 has meant replacing 11 bridges over the M4 so they are wide enough to fit the upgraded motorway, which, when finished, will add vital extra capacity and improve journeys. The installation […]
PFI projects could return to the public sector in a ‘unsatisfactory condition’
The complexity of managing the end of PFIs could cost public sector bodies could more time and resources as those contracts could return in a ‘unsatisfactory condition’, according to a new report by the National Audit Office (NA0). The report, Managing PFI assets and service as contracts end, says public sector bodies risk underestimating the time, […]
Autonomous vehicles may not prevent all crashes, says report
Driver mistakes play a role in virtually all crashes. That’s why automation has been held up as a potential game changer for safety. But autonomous vehicles might prevent only around a third of all crashes if automated systems drive too much like people, according to a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety […]
Tfl signs £500m civil engineering contract
Transport for London has signed a four-year deal with Costain, Morgan Sindall and Skanska to deliver what it calls some of its more complex, large scale, civil engineering schemes which will improve London’s road network for all. The new £500 million framework will see the trio working with TfL to design and build some of […]
New toolkit launched to help with DMRB
A new toolkit has been developed to help highway contractors with the new Design Manual for Roads and Bridges. As part of the new Manual, there is the requirement to manage drainage asset data and conduct specialist drainage surveys has changed. Designed to improve asset management, highways maintenance and reduce the risk of flooding and […]
Hydrogen fuel has a bigger role to play in transport says report
Hydrogen fuel has a bigger role to play in helping reduce carbon emissions from the highways and transport sector, according to a new report by the Centre for Policy Studies. The report, Driving Change-How Hydrogen can Fuel a Transport Revolution, calls for progress to be made with heavy-duty vehicles such as buses, trains, ships and […]
West Cheltenham Transport Improvement Scheme starts as contractor is appointed
Gloucestershire County Council has appointed contractor, Knights Brown to start work on the first half of the West Cheltenham Transport Improvement Scheme (WCTIS). Hampshire based Construction firm Knights Brown has been chosen by the Council to implement the plan and from early June 2020, work will start on several key junctions along the A40 corridor in […]
Sheffield City Region plans to deliver 620 miles of cycling and walking routes
The Sheffield City Region has revealed plans to create a network of more than 620 miles of accessible walking and cycling routes across South Yorkshire. The network will feature 800 safe crossings for people travelling on foot or by bike, and nearly 200 square miles of low traffic neighbourhoods, which see streets transformed. This forms […]
Scottish highway and transport contractors prepare for work to restart
Highway and transport contractors in Scotland are to begin pre-start preparations on sites as part of first phase of easing restrictions. The construction sector has moved into the first phases of its restart plan, following the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s recent announcement that Scotland would move into Phase 1 of the route map from May […]
City of Edinburgh Council launches mapping tool to help active travel changes
The City of Edinburgh Council, working with Sustrans, has launched an online platform for people to share suggestions on walking and cycling routes around the city. Its Commonplace mapping tool has been designed for public input to assess the best routes for maintaining physical distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. The tool allows residents to highlight […]