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The National Traffic Control Centre collects real-time information on road conditions.
A3 Hindhead Improvement
The project will deliver quicker, more reliable journeys on a safer road.
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M5 Junctions 4a to 8 between M42 and M50
M5 Junctions 4a to 8 between M42 and M50
- Status
- Completed
- Located in
- Area 9
- Scheme type
- Other
The Project
The Highways Agency has completed a project involving the installation of new variable message signs and motorway signals type 3 (MS3), Motorway Incident Detection Automatic Signalling (MIDAS) and Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Upgrade.
The installation of MS3, MIDAS and CCTV will:
- Warn the drivers of queues and accidents ahead and help the police manage traffic accidents.
- Smooth flows to minimise stop - start conditions.
- Advise drivers about congestion and indicate suitable alternate routes, so helping to balance traffic across the network.
- Provide better information and safer roads.
The benefits
This project will enhance safety to the road user by giving them up-to-date information such as 'Accident', 'Delays on M5' or 'Queues ahead' and warn the road user of any diversion routes that have been put in place such as 'For M6 use M42' together, with any speed restrictions limit.
The MIDAS system, for which vehicle detection loops are required, has been installed in the road surface to detect slow moving or stationary traffic on the motorway and set message signs and signals to warn traffic that are approaching the hazard.
The new CCTV cameras will allow the system operators to view the motorway and allows them to monitor the traffic especially when incidents have occurred. They will then be able to take the appropriate action in terms of diversions and inform the motorist of delays using the signalling system.
