National Highways plans major guidance changes

12/11/2024 | CHRIS AMES

National Highways plans major guidance changes

As part of the ongoing process of rewriting the Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works (MCHW), everything related to design of a structure will be removed and hosted instead within the DMRB.

Speaking at the Institute of Highway Engineers Traffic Signs Conference Michael Lewis of National Highways confirmed that the MCHW will also include ‘Instructions for Specifiers’ and ‘Constructor requirements’.

The MCHW was announced at the beginning of the current (2020-25) Roads Period and is due to be complete by March. 

Mr Lewis said the changes would be ‘quite a shock to the industry’.

A new version of the DMRB was launched in 2020 but it is now set to be rewritten again, in light of the reformed MCHW.

National Highways will also shortly issue new guidance to facilitate the use of socketed foundations on minor structures such as road signs and radar masts.

Such quick-change structures do not currently comply with the recently revised CD 354 Design of Minor Structures document within the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB), and so are designed as an ‘alternative type’ of foundation.

Mr Lewis said that although there are potential issues with the design of retention sockets, it was a misconception that their exclusion from CD 354 means that National Highways has ‘banned’ them.

In fact, reflecting the ‘conundrum’ posed by the popularity of retention sockets, the company has been working with consultancy firm WSP to create a design guide for their use.

This will include an introduction to retention sockets; design standards and approvals; design principles; inspection and maintenance considerations and example calculations for engineers.

Mr Lewis said: ‘Any good design guide has to have a couple of example calculations. So we decided to pick three structures that would be used on the network – traffic signals, stopped vehicle detection and a traffic sign and we designed the foundation.’

The document will also examine the uses of foundation sockets, including for lighting columns, traffic signs and signals and hosting masts for stopped vehicle detection radar devices.

It will look at benefits such as cost, sustainability and reliability; construction programme benefits; orientation flexibility; and the potential for temporary removal, as well as risks including loose connection, corrosion from dissimilar metals and potential trip hazards when removed.

The guidance will also provide an overview of the different standards for ‘a broad church’ of structure uses and include guidance on wind action and issues of wind funnelling and wind induced vibration and resonance.

It will also cover the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations, whole life asset management of socket foundations and provide an overview of the design of supporting posts.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Civil Enforcement Officers x 2

£26,403.00 - £28,142.00, Grade 5, 37 hours, Permanent
Parking Services are looking to recruit 2 full time Civil Enforcement Officers to complement its existing workforce. Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Senior Street Cleanse Technician x 3 (CDC)

Grade 6 £25,981 - £26,815
We are about to embark on an ambitious programme of change in our city. Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: City Of Doncaster Council

Highways Development Officer

£37,280 - £40,777
This is an exciting time for a talented, self-driven professional to join us in the role of Highways Development Management Co-ordinator. Gloucester
Recruiter: Gloucestershire County Council

Principal Highways Development Officer

£48,226 - £51,35
This is an exciting time for a talented, self-driven professional to join us in the role of Highways Principal Development Management Co-ordinator . Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Recruiter: Gloucestershire County Council

Street Lighting Project Engineer

PO2 - £41,442 to £44,331
Help us keep our streets safe, efficient and ready for the future Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recruiter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Principal Engineer - Highways Development Management

£47,181.00 - £50,269.00, Grade 11, 37 hours, Permanent
We are seeking a dedicated Principal Highways Development Management Engineer to join our team. Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Highways Development Management Engineer

£32,061.00 - £46,142.00, Career Grade 7-10, 37 hours, Permanent
Do you want to join a team helping to shape the future of Wakefield through HIghways Development Management? Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Highways Project Engineer

£31,537 - £42,839 per annum
Would you like to be part of our friendly, welcoming Highways team, proud to manage all aspects of the highway network? Boroughbridge, York
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Highways Project Engineer

£31,537 - £42,839 per annum
Would you like to be part of our friendly, welcoming Highways team, proud to manage all aspects of the highway network? Skipton, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Technician - Highway Inspector

Grade 8 £29,719 - £31,691 per annum
Within the Highways Maintenance Team we are looking for an enthusiastic, customer focused and experienced person Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Highway Design and Construction Manager

Grade N, scp50 £62,443 to scp53 £65,663 per annum, plus essential car user allowance
We embrace AI to enhance our operations and to innovate our services. Bolton, Greater Manchester
Recruiter: Bolton Council

Technician - Highway Inspector

Grade 8 £29,719 - £31,691 per annum
At Derbyshire, we have been on a journey to transform the way we deliver highway services. Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Team Leader (Maintenance Operations)

Grade 10 - £48,226 - £51,356
Cardiff is growing faster than any other capital city in Europe. Cardiff (Caerdydd)
Recruiter: Cardiff Council

Highways Supervisor

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a permanent Highways Supervisor Forfar, Angus
Recruiter: Amey

Tree Surveyor

£Competitive
We are excited to offer fantastic opportunities for Permanent Tree Surveyors Scotland
Recruiter: Amey

Chief Operating Officer – South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee

£Competitive
We’re looking for a bold, visionary leader to take on the role of Chief Operating Officer Carmarthenshire (Sir Gaerfyrddin)
Recruiter: Carmarthenshire County Council

Clerk of Works - Highways

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Clerk of Works to join our dynamic NMC SW Account team at Polmadie. Glasgow, Glasgow City
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Supervisor

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a permanent Highways Supervisor to join our NMC NE account in Kinross. Perth and Kinross
Recruiter: Amey

Planner - Highways

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for Permanent Planner – Highways to join our NMC SW Account. Glasgow City
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Maintenance Manager

£51,356 - £55,539 per annum
We are looking for an experienced Engineer to join the team as a Highways Maintenance Manager Selby, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW