Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

The Project

Was originally emvisaged as to install a "Triple Package" comprising Motorway Incident Detection & Automatic Signalling (MIDAS) with fibre-optic cabling, as well as CCTV monitoring systems along the M56 Motorway between Junctions 9 and 16.

The MIDAS system uses electronic sensors in the carriageway to detect slow-moving and stationary traffic to trigger electronic message signs displayed on the overhead gantries, warning drivers of traffic queues ahead. This reduces speeds on the approach to the queue and so improves road safety. 

The CCTV cameras are used by the HA Regional control centre to monitor and respond to situations on the motorway, deploying resources to ensure that incidents are dealt with safely and swiftly.

The initial preparation phase of works commenced on Monday 19th October 2009 and continued during early 2010.  Due to funding constraints the works were curtailed and additional, future phases placed on hold.

All these preparation works are now completed and traffic management removed.