Highways England launches Maintenance Assistance Vehicle - MAV

Highways England has developed a vehicle to help replace overhead highway signs that it says will reduce the need to close lanes and roads during work The vehicle uses a hydraulic scissor lift similar to that seen on catering vehicles that load food into the hold of airplanes at airports. Traditionally, signs are taken down and installed using a flatbed truck, crane and cherry picker, taking up to 40 minutes. However, the Maintenance Assistance Vehicle (MAV) can do this in around 20 to 25 minutes by usin
July 7, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
Easier access with the MAV from Highways England
8100 Highways England has developed a vehicle to help replace overhead highway signs that it says will reduce the need to close lanes and roads during work

The vehicle uses a hydraulic scissor lift similar to that seen on catering vehicles that load food into the hold of airplanes at airports. Traditionally, signs are taken down and installed using a flatbed truck, crane and cherry picker, taking up to 40 minutes. However, the Maintenance Assistance Vehicle (MAV) can do this in around 20 to 25 minutes by using a small jib crane which is part of the vehicle.

Road workers have trialled the MAV and have had to shut down fewer lanes for the operation. Highways England said the device provides a safer environment for workers because they are standing on a sturdy platform.

Once the platform is raised to the required working height, the jib crane attaches to the sign on the gantry and lifts it off.  Operatives then detach the sign, place it onto a trolley on the platform and wheel it into the main compartment of the vehicle. The procedure is reversed when installing an electronic sign.

The hydraulically powered scissor lift enables the signs, which are often found on smart motorway gantries, to be serviced at heights of up to 8.5m and in wind speeds of up to nearly 50kph. CCTV cameras enable the MAV driver to park the vehicle in the correct place below the gantry before any maintenance takes place and monitor operatives working at the back.

Highways England said it is examining the best way for its contractors to purchase the machines. It is estimated that if the device were widely adopted it could save up to €5 million a year. Consideration is also being given as to whether it could be used to improve safety for other duties on England’s motorways and major A roads.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Project underway for Chinese bridge
    May 15, 2014
    Potain tower cranes are being used to construct a major cable-stayed bridge in China. The conditions are tough and feature high winds and monsoon conditions, with the cranes working at an altitude of 1,500m above sea level in a mountain range in southern China to build the Duge Beipanjiang Bridge, which will span 720m when it is complete The job is requiring six Potain tower cranes in total during the course of the US$92.75 million (570 million RMB) project. Two cranes have been erected at the job site a
    Read More
  • Bobcat’s Vertikal Telehandlers
    July 18, 2012
    Bobcat was due to unveil its new TR50210 rotary telescopic handler and high horsepower TL470HF telescopic handlers for the first time at the Vertikal Days Exhibition at Haydock Park, Merseyside, north-west England from 27-28 June. The rotating capability of the new telehandlers range is said to allow the machines to serve the needs of an entire site from just one position. Capable of being set up in a matter of minutes, they are described as offering exceptional stability for lifting heavy materials either
    Read More
  • Transport Focus to sort out English road signs
    March 18, 2020
    Transport Focus is zeroing in on poorly maintained road signs in England.
    Read More
  • Mullum Mullum Valley untouched by progress
    July 20, 2012
    Preserving the unspoiled Mullum Mullum Valley was the major consideration when deciding to build a traffic tunnel The answer to one of the major issues facing construction of the A$2.5 billion EastLink route in Australia was simple: construct a tunnel. While it was expensive, those involved realised they had little option but to go underground to protect the environmentally sensitive Mullum Mullum Valley, an untouched area of wood and bushland in Melbourne. EastLink, the 39km toll road project on the easter
    Read More

Highlighted Content