Connect Plus joins Highways Agency’s plea to drivers to take care through road works

Connect Plus, the design, build, finance and operating company for southern England’s M25 and its adjoining trunk routes, last week joined with the Highways Agency to convey vital messages to drivers passing through road works. The company, a joint venture consisting of Balfour Beatty, Skanska, Atkins and Egis Projects SA, was participating in the Highways Agency Road Worker Safety Week (21-28 October), which aimed to get across to the public some of the dangers road workers face in their work close to fas
October 30, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
Connect Plus staff with members of the public at South Mimms services during the UK’s Road Safety Week

Connect Plus, the design, build, finance and operating company for southern England’s M25 and ITS adjoining trunk routes, last week joined with the 2309 Highways Agency to convey vital messages to drivers passing through road works.

The company, a joint venture consisting of 1146 Balfour Beatty, 2296 Skanska, 3005 Atkins and 2376 EGIS Projects SA, was participating in the Highways Agency Road Worker Safety Week (21-28 October), which aimed to get across to the public some of the dangers road workers face in their work close to fast moving traffic. In the last three years, eight road workers have lost their lives in accidents at the UK roadside.

Connect Plus, which maintains the M25 and employs over 200 road workers, held an information session at Cobham Services where the public were able to view the latest awareness videos about road worker safety and talk to road workers about some of the dangers they face.  A similar session was held at South Mimms services.  

Connect Plus has been working with the Highways Agency and ITS supply chain partners to reduce the risks road workers face, including trialling systems to reduce live carriageway crossings (one of the greatest risks for road workers) by nearly half, as well as introducing vehicles which offer greater protection from collisions.

To support Road Worker Safety Week, Connect Plus also jointly funded the first ever national road worker safety radio campaign, ‘Take Extra Care’, which is being broadcast until 2 November and features three hard-hitting messages focusing on the lack of awareness of some drivers of road workers.

Tim Jones, chief executive of Connect Plus, said,  “Some drivers still find it acceptable to put road workers’ lives in danger by not taking enough care when they pass through road works and this can have tragic consequences.

“Our road workers deserve to work in an environment as safe as that of any other and we fully support the Highways Agency’s campaign to increase awareness among motorists of the need to respect road works.”

Road Markings, Barriers & Workzone Protection

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Smart motorway project for UK’s M3
    July 23, 2014
    Balfour Beatty is to work on a €163.5 million (£129 million) upgrade project for a 21.4km stretch of the M3 motorway in the UK. The work involves upgrading the route to smart motorway status and is being carried out for the UK Government’s Highways Agency. This project will increase capacity, reduce congestion and shorten journey times for the 120,000 motorists/day using the route. This section of the motorway runs through the counties of Hampshire and Surrey, between Junction 2 which is interchange with th
    Read More
  • Balfour Beatty Mott McDonald secure key H Agency contract
    June 15, 2012
    The Highways Agency has awarded the second of its new Asset Support Contracts to Balfour Beatty Mott MacDonald. The contract involves maintaining and improving the network of motorways and major ‘A’ roads in the North West. It will cover the Agency’s roads in Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and south Lancashire and will go live from November 2012. Cumbria and the remainder of Lancashire are covered by a separate contract. The key contract will ensure motorways and major 'A' roads in the region co
    Read More
  • Highways Agency announces 2012 supplier recognition scheme winners
    December 10, 2012
    The Highways Agency has announced the winners and highly commended entrants for the second year of its supplier recognition scheme. The scheme recognises suppliers who are deemed to be demonstrating class-leading performance in driving down costs and delivering increasingly efficient and effective customer services, promoting best practice in the Agency’s supply chain. The annual recognition programme highlights the important contribution made by the Agency’s suppliers, who play a vital role in supporting t
    Read More
  • Easing temporary highway danger
    February 22, 2013
    Some of the latest speedometer technology has been successfully trialled in French highway work zones, while tireless work continues across Europe and the United States to reduce the number of work zone deaths and serious injuries involving road workers and motorists. Guy Woodford reports The number of roadworkers being killed and seriously injured on England’s motorways and major trunk roads more than doubled between 2007 and 2010 – from no deaths and 14 serious injuries. This rise has led to to major camp
    Read More

Highlighted Content