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The National Traffic Control Centre collects real-time information on road conditions.
The Project Control Framework
On 1st April 2008 we launched the Project Control Framework. The Framework sets out how we, together with the Department for Transport, manage and deliver major improvement projects.
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Environmental effects in the area
Careful consideration has been given to the environmental effects of the project. Environmental surveys have been undertaken for Contract 1 to establish the impact of widening.
Mitigation
Measures to prevent damage to the environment are known as mitigation measures. We have developed measures to minimise potential environmental impacts and to incorporate mitigation into the Contract 1 works.
Among these mitigation measures are: new noise barriers, landscape planting, and pollution control measures.
These environmental protection measures form an integrated part of the highway design.
Lighting
New lighting will be provided throughout the length of Contract 1. Generally, the lighting columns will be mounted in the verge. They will be 15m high and be of a light grey colour.
Signs, gantries and signals
The communications network will be upgraded to meet the demands of the latest technology to be used on the scheme. The existing direction signs and gantries will be replaced with a system of sign and signal gantries at approximately 800 metre (0.5 miles) intervals, with gantries on the approach to junctions having advance direction signs.
Road surface
The type of existing road surface varies. In some locations there is already a low noise surface and in other areas a conventional road surface. On completion of the widening the road surface type will be low noise throughout the scheme.
Safety barriers
We will provide a Vertical Concrete Barrier in the central reserve. This type of barrier minimises the risk of crossover accidents and is safer for roadworkers because it requires less maintenance. This also means that there willl be fewer occasions when lane closures will be necessary to carry out repair work on the central reserve barrier.
On the verge, a steel barrier system will be used wherever it is necessary to protect drivers from impact with the lighting columns and gantry sign bases.
Environmental Information
For more information on the environmental aspects of Contract 1, please read the Non-Technical Summary of the Environmental Statement, which can be found from the scheme homepage for this project under Publications.
