Be bolder: funding, fresh thinking and the innovations shaping our roads on Highways Voices at Highways UK thanks to ARCADIS, Westcotec, SWARCO, Nicander and AGD
“If they all work, then we haven’t been bold enough.” National Highways Chief Executive Nick Joyce sets the tone for this Highways Voices from Highways UK, with a challenge to the industry backed by up to £1 million in innovation funding. His priority? Making a step change in roadworker safety. In a revealing conversation with […]
‘This award belongs to every operative who has changed’: Seema Flower reacts to DfT recognition
Blind Ambition founder and managing director Seema Flower has dedicated her Department for Transport award to the street works teams who have changed how they set up sites after learning about the challenges disabled people face. Reacting to winning the Outstanding Contribution (Private Sector) Award at the DfT Special Recognition Awards, Ms Flower (pictured, right, […]
DfT outlines funding and accountability priorities for local highways maintenance
The Department for Transport has outlined its next steps for local highways maintenance, including further analysis of council spending, updated ratings and stronger requirements for incentive funding. Speaking at LCRIG’s Strictly Highways 2026, DfT Head of Local Highways Dominik Lengauer said the department’s approach focused on funding, transparency and accountability, and practical support to help […]
Celebrating Excellence: Winners of the 2026 DfT Special Recognition Awards announced
The winners of the 2026 DfT Special Recognition Awards were announced at Strictly Highways on Wednesday 7 October, recognising people, partnerships and projects contributing to the highways and transportation sector. The awards ceremony was hosted by Highways News Managing Editor Paul Hutton. Now in their seventh year, the awards were established by the late Steve […]
Councils urged to review roadside slope monitoring as climate risks grow
Local highway authorities should consider increasing monitoring of critical slopes, cuttings and retaining walls as they adapt road maintenance to a changing climate, delegates at LCRIG’s Strictly Highways conference have heard. Speaking in Blackpool, Arcadis Senior Technical Director Andy Warrington urged councils to review whether their data collection was helping them understand the risks facing […]
No-dig drainage repairs can cut disruption and halve project times, Strictly Highways hears
Local authorities could halve drainage repair times and reduce disruption by using no-dig methods, delegates at LCRIG’s Strictly Highways conference in Blackpool have heard. Crown Plus Head of Business Development Paul Hancock said repairing damaged pipes from within could reduce costs, avoid the need for some road closures and deliver carbon savings of up to […]
Essex campaign challenges young drivers to rethink speeding
A new campaign created by the Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP) is challenging young drivers to rethink their attitudes towards speed. As reported by Road Safety GB, There Are No Respawns uses gaming-inspired content to highlight the potentially life-changing consequences of a split-second decision behind the wheel. Launching across Essex cinemas, social media and digital […]
WJ Group opens two new depots to support business growth
Road marking and highway safety specialists WJ Group,has opened two new depots near Chesterfield and Stoke to support the continued growth and expansion of the business. The investment forms part of WJ’s ongoing expansion strategy, increasing operational capacity, enhancing regional support for customers, and providing dedicated facilities for specialist areas of the business. The new […]
Shropshire Council to begin Pontesbury highway improvement works
Shropshire Council will be carrying out two highway improvement schemes in Pontesbury this summer to improve pedestrian facilities, enhance road safety for residents, businesses and visitors, and improve highway drainage. The first scheme will take place on Hall Bank from 24 August to 4 September, involving footway improvement works. The second scheme will take place […]
Torbay’s energy-saving upgrade to streetlight network ahead of schedule
The upgrade of Torbay’s streetlights to cut energy bills and carbon output is making good progress. A new system is being installed allowing engineers to manage the lights more efficiently. Engineers will see real-time data from the lights and will be able to better control, monitor and maintain the network. This, along with new energy-efficient LED lights will mean big savings in energy use, cutting costs and carbon emissions says […]