Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

Background

Originally part of the M1 J21 - J31 contract 2 widening scheme, this scheme has been segregated into a number of smaller delivery schemes. M1 J28 - J31 is the first of these smaller projects to be taken forward. In March 2008 the SoS for transport requested the Highways Agency to review its projects with a view to making best use of the current asset. The M1 was subject to a feasibility review and from this review J28 - J31 was identified as a candidate for Hard Shoulder Running.

In January 2009, the Secretary of State for Transport (Geoff Hoon), announced a number of Managed Motorway Projects that would be progressed over the next few years.  The project is programmed to start on site in 2012 and is expected to be fully operational in 2014.

Managed Motorways will contribute towards:

• Reliable journeys
• Reduced congestion
• Enhanced information to drivers
• Quicker response times to incidents

This Managed Motorway Project brings together a number of motorway technologies to demonstrate how they can be used together to maximise their benefits.

Building on best practice and experience from the UK (M42 Active Traffic Management) and around the world, Managed Motorways combines existing, tried and tested technology, infrastructure and procedures with new and innovative ideas. Together, these make the best use of the existing road space, providing additional capacity for vehicles, with the aim of reducing congestion and improving safety.

Managed Motorways can be thought of as a 'tool-kit' of technologies and construction procedures, which can be used on their own, or together, to provide solutions to specific problems.

Managed Motorways is a pro-active approach to the strategic management of our road network. This will allow us to better fulfil the Highways Agency's role as Network Operator by:

• Providing targeted solutions to specific problems
• Providing additional capacity for vehicles
• Piloting new and innovative concepts
• Helping to alleviate congestion
• Improving the detection of incidents
• Improving the response to incidents
• Reducing delays caused by incidents or congestion

The Scheme is currently in an early stage of development and further announcements will be made in due course. 

The Appraisal Summary Table, summarising the key consequences relating to the environmental, economic and social impacts of this scheme, will be added once the assessment has been completed.

Key Events:

• Public Information Exhibition - Autumn 2010
• Start of Works - Winter 2012
• Fully Operational - 2014