National Highways boss Nick Harris will deliver the keynote address at Traffex this year as part of a new partnership between the largest client in the UK and the leading roads conference in the country.
Traffex takes place at the NEC Birmingham from 6-8 June, alongside Parkex, the flagship annual conference and exhibition hosted by the British Parking Association.
The Traffex 2023 conference programme is set across four dedicated theatres, plus another Parkex theatre, discussing the key challenges facing those responsible for the construction, management and maintenance of the roads sector, while the exhibition will feature leading suppliers from the highways and traffic sector.
Leading a host of key players from the government-owned company, Mr Harris will address the Highways Strategy Stage on the opening morning on the subject of delivering the second Road Investment Strategy (RIS 2) and looking ahead to RIS 3.
Following Mr Harris, RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding, a co-convenor of the Road Investment Scrutiny Panel, will present the findings of the panel’s recent report and address seven key questions about road spending.
Other headline acts include Tier 1 firms such as Arup, Colas, Kier, Ringway, Tarmac and Yunex as well as the Department for Transport.
Show director Gordon Kirk said: 'We have a brand new team that has transformed Traffex, thanks in no small part to our revitalised partnership with National Highways. We are working closer than ever with the largest client in the UK roads sector and are proud to have National Highways' chief executive Nick Harris opening this year’s event.
‘He will be joined by a host of his colleagues, who will be speaking across 10 additional sessions, alongside a broad range of their Tier 1 partners. The thousands of Traffex attendees this summer will enjoy access to what is our largest conference programme to date, with four dedicated theatres the first time ever - all completely free to attend.
‘Traffex has always been at the heart of the highways sector but we are now part of its guiding mind. Our strategic content programme has been carefully curated alongside National Highways and a range of the industry’s leading trade bodies, boasting not just the biggest names but also the most important subjects that will help set the tone for the sector for the year to come and the roads of tomorrow.'
A new innovation for 2023 is the Highways Excellence Stage, which will see presentations based on best practice and award winning schemes and innovations transforming the sector.
Delegates visiting the Local Roads Theatre will hear about the issues facing the network away from the strategic network, while the EV infrastructure theatre will address the challenges of the transition away from the internal combustion engine.
Mr Kirk added: ‘To facilitate even more discussions at the show, we have also introduced a networking lounge, helping make Traffex the best place to see and be seen by the biggest names in the business.
‘Traffex is unique in that it doesn't just host debates, but also showcases award-winning project and engineering case studies. Winners of prestigious awards from across the entire industry will gather to share best practice and the latest insights in the sector. We look forward to seeing you there in June.'
To find out more and to register, visit traffex.com
