Highways Agency

The Project

Work is underway on a £14.2 million communications upgrade project between Junctions 6-8 on the M11. This is essential work to replace obsolete and failing existing basic infrastructure.

The main scheme will introduce new variable message signs to provide drivers with better information about incidents and conditions on the road ahead. Drivers will also benefit from Closed Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) which will feed real time traffic information to the Regional Traffic Control Centre at South Mimms. This will help keep the Highways Agency and the emergency services informed about road conditions and help them deal with incidents and congestion more quickly and efficiently.

When complete, a new incident detection system will identify queuing traffic and automatically activate signals to warn approaching vehicles of slow moving or stationary traffic. This requires the installation of traffic detector loops in the carriageway at 500m intervals.  Drivers will be able to slow down in time, reducing further incidents, and consider alternative routes which will help cut congestion. Similar schemes in the UK have reduced the number of secondary injury accidents by 13 per cent and the investment in this upgrade will be returned during the life of the scheme.

The project is due to be completed by September 2008.

Traffic Management

When planning road projects we ensure that the programme of work causes the least amount of disruption to the travelling public and work will be confined to Hardshoulder working or overnight lane closures. Please see the Roadworks page for the latest traffic management arrangements for this scheme.

The Benefits

In summary, the benefits of this scheme include:

• Creating more reliable journeys
• Improving road safety
• Reducing congestion

For more information about the variable message signs please go to the Highways Agency online Knowledge Centre.