News

Article
£2m highways scheme finds its niche 20/11/2018 Galliford Try Highways is carrying out complex highway works for a housing development in Warwickshire.
Highways England develops computer design and 'naked' roads 19/11/2018 Computer road design could take over a significant proportion of work from human consultants over the next decade, under Highways England's Rapid Engineering Model (REM), a senior figure has suggested.
ITS Summit – are you on board? 19/11/2018 The ITS (UK) summit next week will feature speakers from near and far as well as what promises to be a lively debate on whether driverless vehicles should be seen as heroes or villains.
Kier offloads Australia roads business for £24m 15/11/2018 Kier Group has agreed the sale of an Australian highways firm for around £24m, generating a profit of around £15m.
London penalty charge notices up 10% 14/11/2018 The number of penalty charge notices issued by London’s highway authorities rose by 10% during the last financial year.
Political vision needed to solve governance muddle, SCOTS chief says 14/11/2018 Scotland’s local authority transport chiefs have expressed frustration at the slow pace of change over the country’s governance arrangements.
Troubled LoHAC fails to tempt Harrow 14/11/2018 Instead of using LoHAC to recruit a contractor for a £110m 10-year highways maintenance deal, Harrow is recruiting a contractor directly.
Transport Focus: 'The road users' voice is finally arriving' 13/11/2018 Having represented SRN users for around three years now, Transport Focus evidence base is emerging as potentially world class, something chief executive Anthony Smith is rightly proud of.
New gritters aim to stand out for safety 13/11/2018 Highways England has rolled out the first of a fleet of new gritters that employ the latest technology and are designed to stand out in winter conditions.
Capital's councils demand 'fair share' of new roads cash 13/11/2018 London’s boroughs have said they are not getting a fair share of road maintenance cash after they were awarded only £17m of the extra £420m for local authority roads announced during the budget.
Jones returns to transport as Norman climbs DfT ladder 13/11/2018 Roads minister Jesse Norman has been promoted to minister of state at the Department for Transport (DfT), replacing Jo Johnson, who resigned last week over Brexit.
Ringway sitting pretty on £16m highways DBFO contract extension 13/11/2018 Ringway West Unitaries has secured an eight-year extension worth up to £16m to its highway maintenance and services contract for the ‘picturesque’ A417/A419 link.
When Highways met the minister 13/11/2018 Dominic Browne talks to roads minister Jesse Norman about PFIs, Brexit and induced demand.
Galliford Try appoints new highways operations director 13/11/2018 Galliford Try Highways has appointed an operations director with a specific brief over its work with Highways England.
Amey scoops new Area 10 contract 13/11/2018 Amey Consulting has won a £50m Highways England design services contract covering the North West.
Charity calls for overhaul of cycling network with ‘historic problems’ 12/11/2018 A national cycling charity has called for an ‘overhaul’ of the UK’s cycle network, a move it argues could help add nearly £8bn to the economy.
Minister reveals plans for five-year local roads funding strategy 09/11/2018 The roads minister Jesse Norman has revealed plans to move local roads closer to the kind of five-year funding package enjoyed by Highways England, revealing his officials are already working on a business case.
Exclusive: O'Sullivan - Stonehenge and Lower Thames must be publicly financed or delayed 09/11/2018 In one of his first interviews since the Budget, Highways England chief executive Jim O'Sullivan told Highways it was too late to find a new private finance model for the Stonehenge and Lower Thames Crossing schemes if they are to open on time.
Blakedale adds a Scorpion to its collection 09/11/2018 Road safety vehicle hire and sales specialist Blakedale has launched a transatlantic partnership that will see it distribute a new Truck Mounted Attenuator (TMA) in the UK.
Four in five users satisfied with SRN 08/11/2018 Transport Focus has published what it says is ‘the most significant and robust picture ever’ of driver satisfaction on the strategic road network.
Cornwall and Notts negotiate over highways firm 08/11/2018 Nottinghamshire County Council is in talks to take over the firm responsible for its highways maintenance.
The bottom line: Freight firms bemoan SRN surface quality 08/11/2018 Only half of logistics and coach operators are satisfied with the strategic road network, according to the road users’ watchdog.
Consultation asks: Should self-driving cars bend the rules too? 08/11/2018 Legal experts have asked for the public’s views on creating a digital highway code to support the ‘next generation’ of vehicles.
ADEPT wants fundamental change on local roads funding 08/11/2018 Council directors have called for a systematic change to the ‘broken’ system of funding for local roads maintenance.
Row flares as new delay hits £745m AWPR 08/11/2018 A war of words over the much-delayed Aberdeen bypass has continued after a contractor confirmed that it will not be fully open until at least December.
Highways England reveals £8.7bn regional partnership winners 07/11/2018 Highways England has announced the 13 contractors that have secured places on its Regional Delivery Partnership frameworks covering £8.7bn worth of work.
Highways England to save the Stover Lake lillies 06/11/2018 Highways England is delivering a giant reedbed filter system to help return vanished water lillies to a nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
ACO launches flexible professional development programme 06/11/2018 Leading water management company ACO has launched a professional development programme designed to address training challenges in the construction industry.
Kier – and partners – launch collaboration initiative 02/11/2018 Kier Highways has launched a major new initiative that aims to help transform the sector’s approach to safety, customer service and delivery through innovation and collaboration.
Hammond's £420m for local roads 'should be a first step' 02/11/2018 Two key figures in the highway maintenance industry have said the Budget announcement of a £420m cash boost for councils should lead to a significant long-term increase in funding for local roads.
Scotland 'has huge amount to offer CAV sector' 02/11/2018 Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAV) have the potential to bring huge change to people's lives, Scotland’s transport secretary has said at a major industry event.
£75m 'would prevent 1,100 fatal and serious injuries' 30/10/2018 A new report has highlighted the 2,549 additional deaths that have occurred on Britain’s roads in the last decade as the long-term trend of casualty reduction has stalled.
Driving instructor trains Norfolk motorists on 'different' roundabouts 30/10/2018 A Norfolk driving instructor is offering free training for motorists on how to safely navigate successive roundabouts on the recently opened 12.5km A1270 Broadland Northway, which bypasses the city of Norwich.
Comment: The death of project finance has been exaggerated 30/10/2018 Jon Hart, partner at law firm Pinsent Masons LLP and a regular Highways magazine contributor, asks whether the abolition of PFI/PF2, announced in this week's Budget, means the end of the road for project finance.
Draft £25bn RIS2 sets out 2050 vision 30/10/2018 The Department for Transport has published a draft road investment strategy for 2020-25, setting a ‘deliberately ambitious’ vision for the strategic road network in 2050.
£25bn for RIS2 but PFI ban could cost Highways England 29/10/2018 The chancellor has announced £25bn for the second Road Investment Strategy, although a large chunk of this may now be needed to pay for two Highways England projects costing over £8bn after Philip Hammond banned new PFI schemes.
Local roads get £420m maintenance boost 29/10/2018 The chancellor has announced an immediate £420m cash boost for local authority highway maintenance budgets with millions more for local transport projects.
SWH runs off with £2.1m Highways England eco project 29/10/2018 SWH Civils has secured a £2.1m contract from Highways England for an ecological improvement project in a Devon country park.
Wolverhampton keeps traffic moving with quick pothole repairs 29/10/2018 Wolverhampton Council has cut disruption on its roads by using a Velocity Patcher to fill potholes roads across the city at speed.
Hammond to announce £25bn RIS2 as part of £30bn transport cash 29/10/2018 The Chancellor will announce a £30bn investment package for the country’s transport network in Monday’s Budget, including a £29bn National Roads Fund created by ringfencing Vehicle Excise Duty.
Hear all about the FLOURISH CAV project on Talking Transport 25/10/2018 The latest in the series of popular Talking Transport podcasts discusses the human side of driverless cars by talking to key members of the FLOURISH
Autonomous pods coming to Edinburgh 25/10/2018 Delegates at CAV Scotland 2018 will be able to enjoy an autonomous driving experience in a colourful and distinctive AurriGo PodZero, designed to carry four
Analysis: Fake news versus 'real futures' 24/10/2018 New technology and innovation needs real-world application to succeed, writes Steve Birdsall, chief executive of Gaist.
Scotland achieves lowest road casualties since records began 24/10/2018 The latest figures from the Scottish Government have revealed impressive progress on road safety, with the number of casualties down to the lowest level since records began.
Survey finds majority unhappy with DfT's traffic sign reforms 24/10/2018 What is thought to be the first major survey on the Government's traffic signs overhaul in 2016 has found an overwhelming majority unhappy with the changes.
Experts urge caution over Addison's Lee 2021 driverless cars plan 22/10/2018 Addison Lee Group, the premium car service, and the British leader in self-driving vehicle software, Oxbotica, have announced a strategic alliance to put self-driving services in London by 2021.
Modified to make the grade 22/10/2018 Muhammad Ikram of FM Conway discusses the company’s pioneering use polymer modified bitumen (PMB) and recycled material.
Campaigners hail 'mayor victory' on Highway Code changes 22/10/2018 Campaigners have welcomed confirmation that planned revisions to the Highway Code will include new measures to promote cycle and pedestrian safety, including the ‘Dutch reach’ method of opening car doors to avoid hitting cyclists.
Exclusive: Labour demands answers over £75m road safety cash 22/10/2018 Labour's shadow road safety minister is to write to the Government to ask what has happened to the unspent £75m from its £175m Safer Roads Fund.
£100m safety scheme ‘will prevent 1,450 deaths and serious injuries’ 22/10/2018 A £100m scheme to improve the 48 riskiest local authority A roads in England will prevent almost 1,450 deaths and serious injuries over the next two decades, safety campaigners have said.
£25m Poynton Relief Road contract tendered 22/10/2018 Cheshire East Borough Council has tendered a £25m contract for the design and construction of the Poynton Relief Road.
Highways England and Sustrans 'in tandem' to help cyclists 19/10/2018 Highways England has linked with charity Sustrans to deliver cycling schemes worth £3m as it works to meet its target for cycling improvements in the Road Investment Strategy (RIS).
Highways England must do more for non-motorists, watchdog says 19/10/2018 The transport watchdog has called on Highways England to do more to address the safety fears of cyclists, pedestrians and horseriders.
Design and product focus: I can stand the rain 19/10/2018 Don Blackburn, of Blackburn and Roberts Ltd, is a chartered engineer with decades of experience in highways drainage. He gives Highways an analysis of a couple of design and product ideas.
Unsung heroes 19/10/2018 The Ranty Highwayman is a chartered engineer who works in a local highways department. In this article he discusses unsung heroes.
Highways Awards 2018 - winners revealed! 18/10/2018 Thirteen winners, from organisations across the UK, received their awards from former Formula 1 McLaren pit crew mechanic and motivational speaker, Marc Priestley - along with representatives from each of our category sponsors.
East region maintenance contract worth £490m, Highways England confirms 16/10/2018 Highways England has valued its new combined Maintenance and Response contract for the East of England at £490m over 15 years.
Scotland seeks bids for £1.4bn trunk road contracts 16/10/2018 Transport Scotland has advertised its first two next generation trunk road contracts, worth a total of £1.4bn.
Harrow looks over the hill for £110m highway works 16/10/2018 Harrow Council is looking for a highways maintenance contractor in a deal that could be worth £110m over 10 years.
'New information' could see Arundel Bypass route change 15/10/2018 Highways England is to carry out a fresh consultation on ‘important new evidence’ regarding its controversial plans for a bypass at the A27 at Arundel.
Connected corridor addresses green lights and red X's 12/10/2018 Highways England has showcased its A2/M2 connected corridor project to an international audience.
Sad loss for the traffic signs community 11/10/2018 The Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE) has announced the recent death of Geoff Bray, an inaugural member of the traffic signs committee that it set up to run its annual conference and other events.
Leeds aims to cushion impact of Clean Air Zone 10/10/2018 Leeds City Council has outlined its final plans for a Clean Air Zone to help cut pollution in the city, which will see buses, coaches and HGVs charged £50 a day.
Thames crossing to be longer and wider 10/10/2018 The Lower Thames Crossing will now have three lanes in each direction and will nearly double road capacity across the river, Highways England has announced.
UK Autodrive in ‘world’s first’ multi-vehicle connected and driverless test 10/10/2018 The UK Autodrive consortium has completed the 'world’s first' tests involving more than one connected and autonomous vehicle.
The Long Read: New code, new beginning 09/10/2018 Dominic Browne looks at the state of play as the deadline approaches for councils to implement the new code of practice, Well-managed Highway Infrastructure.
Cumbria road leads to Roman remains 09/10/2018 Highways England has uncovered the remains of a Roman settlement in Cumbria during its £5m A66 Eden Valley improvements project.
Rail man Larkinson takes temporary charge at the ORR 09/10/2018 The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has appointed John Larkinson, as interim chief executive as it seeks to replace Joanna Whittington on a permanent basis.
Highways England switches on road studs at busy junction 09/10/2018 Highways England has completed the installation of 175 airport-runway-style LED road studs at one of England’s busiest motorway junctions.
Transport bodies criticise 'perverse' local roads funding gap 09/10/2018 A coalition of transport bodies has warned that without adequate and stable funding the maintenance backlog on local roads will pass to future generations.
Amey named Area 10 contractor in £325m deal 08/10/2018 Amey has secured the Highways England Area 10 highways maintenance and response contract in a 15-year deal worth £325m.
Balfour Beatty scoops a potential £220m deal in Telford 08/10/2018 Balfour Beatty Living Places has been awarded a seven-year £103m highways maintenance contract by Telford and Wrekin Council with an option to extend for a further seven years.
Volker wins in Wokingham 04/10/2018 Wokingham Borough Council has awarded a maintenance and construction contract to VolkerHighways worth £68m for the first seven years.
The Big Interview: A room with a different view 04/10/2018 Dominic Browne interviews Duncan Elliott, who joined Galliford Try as managing director of the highways business unit within its infrastructure division in March.
Highways England to consult on 'significant changes' to Lower Thames Crossing 04/10/2018 Highways England has made ‘significant changes’ to its plans for the Lower Thames Crossing to minimise its impact on local communities and the environment.
MPs given five-year plan to remove 'majority of pothole backlog' 04/10/2018 One of England's largest technical bodies covering highways has outlined five steps to eliminating most of the nation's pothole backlog in the space of five years in a submission to MPs.
New CAV event to hear about 'snowtonomous driving' 03/10/2018 The director of Finland’s intelligent road project will be a key speaker at a two-day conference and demonstration on connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV) in Edinburgh at the end of this month.
Bristol edges slowly towards congestion charges 03/10/2018 Bristol City Council has published a draft transport strategy that includes a mass transit scheme, as well as possible congestion and workplace parking charges.
DfT corrects Grayling on his conference speech 03/10/2018 The Department for Transport (DfT) has corrected Chris Grayling on his own conference speech, after he mistakenly claimed that all money from 'car tax' goes back into improving roads.
Fuel duty freeze continues 03/10/2018 The government will freeze fuel duty for the ninth year in a row, the prime minister has announced.
Local government funding to be slashed by a further £1.3bn 03/10/2018 Council budgets will be cut by a third next year, causing 'dramatic' reductions in services, local government leaders have warned.
Edinburgh takes fast approach to EV charging with £3.3m plan 03/10/2018 Councillors in Edinburgh have approved a £3.3m plan to introduce a ‘strategic, citywide network of electric vehicle (EV) charging points’..
Pre-Christmas Severn toll abolition greeted with demands for more gifts 02/10/2018 Ministers have announced that the Severn Crossings will become toll-free two weeks early, prompting a wish list of new demands.
Grayling unveils major road schemes and gives a pothole teaser 02/10/2018 Transport secretary Chris Grayling has announced the first of the 'major road' schemes, although the Department for Transport has yet to reveal the network itself.
Ministers respond to fears over shared space ban 01/10/2018 The Government has issued further clarification on its moratorium on shared space schemes, in a move to assuage fears among planners and designers that the ban on level surfaces could have gone too far.
Update: Liverpool flyovers 'likely' to be demolished over safety fears 01/10/2018 The Churchill Way flyovers in Liverpool city centre have closed after a routine inspection found several design and construction flaws.
Operation Brock timing prompts no deal Brexit fears 28/09/2018 Operation Brock, the Government's contingency plans to manage lorry traffic in Kent, could take up to 14 days to implement raising concerns of traffic chaos in the event of no Brexit deal.
Bus firm goes ahead with 'first air filtering bus' 28/09/2018 One of the country’s largest transport operators has unveiled the UK’s first air filtering bus.
The Long Read: The A9 dualling from beginning to end 27/09/2018 Dominic Browne speaks to Jo Blewett, project manager for one of Scotland's largest ever transport infrastructure programmes – the A9 dualling – to find out the facts behind this massive scheme.
County rethinks gritting routes to keep up with risk-based approach 27/09/2018 Hertfordshire County Council has approved new gritting routes following a review aimed at bringing its operations into line with the new highways code of practice.
Calls for new approach as road fatalities remain 'stubbonly high' 27/09/2018 Motoring groups have called for more effective action to tackle road casualties after the number of people killed on Britain’s roads rose again.
FM Conway tackles driver shortage with new LGV apprenticeship 27/09/2018 Infrastructure services company FM Conway has launched one of the construction industry’s first Large Goods Vehicle driver apprenticeship programmes.
Highways magazine spares blushes on Liverpool £280m contract mix-up 27/09/2018 Highways magazine was able to do Liverpool Combined Authority and in particular Halton BC a favour after spotting the Merseyside authority had been left off a £280m highways works framework.
Camden to replace 100-year-old heritage lighting with LED upgrade 27/09/2018 Nottingham-based civil and electrical engineering firm McCann is helping to upgrade eight heritage street lighting columns in a London borough
Southampton braces for disruption as £19m bridge works close M27 27/09/2018 Highways England will close the M27 in both directions between two major intersections this weekend as it replaces the Romsey Road Bridge.
Work starts on £3.2m safety barrier scheme on M62 27/09/2018 Highways England has begun work to install more than six miles of new steel barrier on a busy section of the M62 in West Yorkshire.
WSP adds directors to road and rail teams 26/09/2018 WSP has added three new directors to its transport and infrastructure business team as it aims for a share of the ‘growing pipeline’ of strategic rail and highways contracts.
RSTA launches asset management group 25/09/2018 An asset management group aimed at supporting local authorities in their risk-based approach to maintenance has been set up by the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA).
Transport Network builds team for growing business 24/09/2018 Transport Network is boosting its team to handle its increasing demands following a surge of successful events and bids for future business.
Ringway wins up to £245m highways work in Gloucestershire 24/09/2018 Gloucestershire County Council has awarded Ringway Infrastructure Services a highways maintenance contract worth a potential £245m.

Most Popular News

Kier offloads Australia roads business for £24m

New gritters aim to stand out for safety

Galliford Try appoints new highways operations director

Transport Focus: 'The road users' voice is finally arriving'

Amey scoops new Area 10 contract