An intelligent network, coupled with connected vehicles, would improve how efficiently British roads are maintained and at the same time improve safety, says the government.
At the same time, drones could also be used to fly overhead and report back on incidents, improving response times – and technology will play an increasingly major role in keeping people moving and the country connected.
These are just some of the ideas presented today in Highways England’s ambitious ‘strategic network‘ vision of how the next few years should look on our roads, and which will be used to inform the government’s next road investment strategy, which begins in 2020.
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The study outlines eight “aspirations” for the next step in national road investment:
- focus on operations, maintenance and renewals
- build the smart motorway spine of the network
- roll out expressways
- undertake transformational investments
- deliver a balanced programme
- renew focus on small schemes
- deliver through refined designated funds
- prepare for the future.
“We are setting out our high level aspirations which will help ensure the network continues to drive economic growth, jobs and prosperity, and keeps traffic moving today and into the future,” said Highways England’s Chief Executive, Jim O’Sullivan.
Highways England operates, maintains and improves England’s motorways and major A roads, working with the Department for Transport (DfT).