Highways Agency drives on with traffic tech

The Highways Agency has awarded a £96m contract for the expansion of its active traffic management technology to Carillion.

The scheme has been trialled on the M42 south of Birmingham, with the hard shoulder of the motorway opened to traffic during busy periods and variable speed limits being employed.

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In the trial on the M42, average weekday journey times fell by more than a quarter, with drivers correctly predicting the time of their journey 27 per cent more often.

The number of accidents also decreased from 5.1 per month to just 1.8 per month.

The system uses a network of electronic signs to indicate to motorists when the measures are being employed and will now be rolled out more widely around the Birmingham area.

The scheme will be expanded in two phases starting in autumn 2008 on sections of the M40, M42 and M6. The first phase is due to be completed by the end of 2009 with the second due to start in early 2009 running until spring 2011.

Transport Secretary, Ruth Kelly, said the trial on the M42 proved hard shoulder running and variable speed limits are practical and cost efficient.

Kelly recently proposed a £6bn investment programme to make better use of the UK's road network including the consideration of hard shoulder running on 500 miles of motorway.

Derek Turner, Highways Agency network operations director, said the deal with Carillion is an important contract for the potential use of the technology across the rest of the country.