Creating a more sustainable, reliable and safer road network

The Highways Agency has published its annual Business Plan for 2008-09, setting out how it plans to create a more sustainable, reliable and safer strategic road network.

Building on the successful trial of Active Traffic Management (ATM) on the M42, the Agency will extend hard-shoulder running on motorways around Birmingham, as well as introducing measures such as CCTV, queue detection systems and variable message signs on other parts of the network.

The Agency will also carry out major improvements where they are most needed. In 2008-09 it will complete 15 major road schemes - including the M1 J6a to J10 widening scheme - and develop a further two schemes into the construction phase. It also plans to award the 30-year private finance contract (in excess of £5 billion) to design, build, finance and operate more than 63 miles of the M25.

A fundamental part of the Agency's work between now and 2011 will be to develop and deliver pioneering solutions to manage trunk road journeys, whilst understanding and controlling our impacts on the environment.

Archie Robertson, Highways Agency Chief Executive, said: "This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the first stretch of completed motorway. The people who built our roads then would be astonished to see the volume of freight and passenger journeys that they carry now.

"As we look forward to 2011 it is clear our aims are to provide the information and infrastructure necessary to help these drivers use our roads in a safe and reliable way, whilst also taking the steps necessary to tackle the impact this may have on the environment."

Key measures in the business plan are:

Introducing new technology to help keep traffic moving and cut delays by building on the successful trial of Active Traffic Management;

Developing the Highways Agency Traffic Officer Service, including letting a new contract to remove abandoned and broken-down vehicles more quickly. The service has already made a big difference to our customers, dealing with an average 850 incidents a day;

Developing our information services, including further roll out of Traffic Radio, wider use of CCTV and displaying travel and delay times on more variable message signs on the network.

Making best use of our network by using existing and new technology to tackle congestion and improve road safety, including:

Covering an additional 124 miles of the network with automatic queue protection equipment to warn drivers of queues ahead.

Researching the feasibility of introducing laser and radar technology to enhance our ability to detect incidents.

Introducing technology at 13 sites across the network to detect overweight lorries, as part of a partnership with VOSA and the police.

Introducing more HGV overtaking restrictions on appropriate stretches of the network over the next three years. This follows a successful trial on the M42, where the ban helped to keep traffic moving and reduced accidents.

A copy of the Business Plan will be available from highways.gov.uk.