More than 22,000 people to work on Lower Thames Crossing project
Highways England has revealed it expects at least 22,000 people to work on the Lower Thames Crossing scheme, the country’s largest road programme since the M25 was built 35 years ago. It says the new crossing will almost double road capacity between Kent and Essex, ease congestion across the region, and divert more than 13 […]
French firm Sopra Steria wins HE’s NTIS contract
Highways England has awarded Sopra Steria the National Traffic Information Service contract to provide round-the-clock real-time traffic information about England’s busiest roads. Highways England describes the NTIS service as a “vital tool” for its operations teams and the emergency services to keep traffic moving and respond to incidents as efficiently as possible, and also helps […]
First phase of Windy Habour to Skippool bypass in Lancashire to start next week
The first phase of works on the A585 Windy Harbour to Skippool bypass in Lancashire will start next week, according to Highways England. Work will include the bypassing of Singleton village with a new dual carriageway linked to new junction arrangements along the existing A585 at Windy Harbour and Skippool, helping ease congestion, and improve […]
Survey suggests two thirds of people think smart motorways less safe
A survey by the polling company YouGov suggests the vast majority of drivers think all lane running motorways are less safe than motorways with a hard shoulder. 44% of those asked said they ware “much less safe” and another 20% “a little less safe” with only 7% thinking they are much more or a little […]
HE “working hard” on smart motorway concerns
Highways England has responded to concerns about the safety of smart motorways by insisting that in most ways they are as safe, or safer, than conventional ones. Over the last week a coroner and Police and Crime Commissioner have both questioned the use of the hard shoulder as a running lane, in reaction to the […]
First carbon neutral road improvement project in the UK is completed
Work has been completed on the UK’s first carbon-neutral scheme in Cumbria for Highways England. The project, a collaboration between A E Yates, Aggregate Industries and Amey, saw over 1,000 tonnes of Foamix asphalt laid per night between junction6 of the M6 and Bettarg Holt, with operatives working 24 hours via two shifts to help […]
South Yorkshire Police Chief calls for end of smart motorways
The Police and Crime Commissioner for South Yorkshire has written an open letter to the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, and Highways England, calling for smart motorways to be abandoned “before more lives are lost”. Dr Alan Billings wants all-lane-running stretches such as that along part of the M1 past Sheffield to have the hard shoulder […]
Work to continue on junction 25 of the M25
Work on junction 25 of the M25 will continue this week. The project will be reconfigured to improve traffic flow. The A10 southbound approach into the junction is also a congestion hotspot in Broxbourne, according to Highways England. Junction 25 already sees up to 6,300 vehicles per hour using the junction’s roundabout at peak times, causing congestion and regular […]
HE should “maximise safety of smart motorways” – Lawyer
A leading personal injuries lawyer has told Highways News he does not think that Highways England is at risk of being found guilty of corporate manslaughter over deaths on a smart motorway, but that the government-owned company will need to consider the issues and determine if anything further can be done to maximise the safety […]
Work starts on ‘game changing’ M54 to M6 Link Road
The initial ground investogation and archaeological trial work has started this week to prepare for the construction of the new M54 to M6 Link Road. The surveys will last around eight weeks and will take place between Junction 11 of the M6 and Junction 1 of the M54. They are used as the basis to […]