Smart UK motorway scheme

The first smart motorway scheme in the UK’s south-west has been officially launched, covering 11km of motorway around the Almondsbury interchange and including junctions 19-20 on the M4 and junctions 15-17 on the M5. It is designed to help reduce congestion and improve safety and journey times by introducing variable speed limits and opening the hard shoulder during busy traffic periods. The improvements to the M4 and M5 use a range of technologies and operational systems to reduce congestion and smooth t
February 19, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
The M4/M5 project included installation of 33 new gantries, refurbishing seven existing ones, resurfacing over 22km of carriageway, laying over 48km of fibre optic cabling and constructing six emergency refuge areas
The first smart motorway scheme in the UK’s south-west has been officially launched, covering 11km of motorway around the Almondsbury interchange and including junctions 19-20 on the M4 and junctions 15-17 on the M5.

It is designed to help reduce congestion and improve safety and journey times by introducing variable speed limits and opening the hard shoulder during busy traffic periods. The improvements to the M4 and M5 use a range of technologies and operational systems to reduce congestion and smooth the flow of traffic. During busy periods, traffic officers in the regional control centre at Avonmouth will set overhead message signs to inform drivers they can use the hard shoulder as an extra lane and at what speed to drive.

2309 Highways Agency senior project manager Paul Unwin said: “The M4 and M5 scheme demonstrates how a smart and efficient solution can deliver improvements that road users need – more capacity and better management of traffic to reduce congestion and make journey times more reliable.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Variable message signs aid parking, traffic control
    February 14, 2012
    From the highway to the parking space: message sign technology has proved that it simplifies wayfinding Variable message signs (VMS) are often located at key decision points on busy highways to help manage the network by providing advanced warning to drivers of emergencies and incidents. They are also used to warn drivers of events that may cause delays in the future such as road works and major events. An example comes from the USA where, to stimulate economies and refresh downtown areas, cities are build
    Read More
  • UK smart motorways catching not-so-smart drivers
    November 14, 2016
    The introduction of smart motorways in the UK has led to a significant increase in speeding fines, according to the UK’s British Broadcasting Corporation. Fixed penalties issued on smart sections rose from 2,000 in 2010 to 52,000 in 2015. Now, more than 1,000 motorists a week are being caught speeding on smart motorways, according to data supplied to the BBC by 12 police forces in England. Annual speeding fine revenue going to central government increased to more than €1.23 million, from nearly €16
    Read More
  • Israel interchange
    March 20, 2012
    A new US$350 million road project by the Israel National Roads Company will boost connectivity from the north to the centre of the country. The project is seeing the opening of new interchanges and roads in western Galilee.
    Read More
  • SRL’s outta sight variable message signs
    January 8, 2025
    The system from SRL Traffic Systems for England’s National Highways agency is displaying wording for road works not usually used to warn motorists, including ‘Working even out of view’.
    Read More

Highlighted Content