Signs of future times from Costain and Swarco

Contractor Costain and Austrian manufacturer Swarco have collaborated to create and install the UK’s next generation of digital road message signs.
February 13, 2020 Read time: 1 min

The two companies developed the sign technology for Highways England, the government road asset agency, with Costain delivering the roadside controller and Swarco delivering the signs. According to Costain, the next generation of signs is getting messages to road users more quickly which, in turn, improves road safety and the journey experience for travellers.

The new signs use high-resolution colour optical technology components that enable clearer messages and graphics to be displayed in all weather conditions.

Less material including cabling is used in the manufacturing process which means maintenance requirements are reduced as well as the time engineers spend on roadside duties.

The signs can also display live video images of congestion on the road ahead. This video information could be provided to road users in the future, according to Ian Parker, managing director for transportation at Costain.

Highway & Network Management

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • ASECAP: maintenance mindshift turns spending into investment
    August 4, 2017
    With an estimated value of €8 trillion, the road infrastructure is probably the European Union’s largest single asset. It accounts for 83% of passenger journeys and more than 70% of freight movement. Despite this importance, global investment in roads - especially maintenance - has fallen, said Christophe Nicodeme, European Road Federation secretary general. There are grave consequences, noted Nicodeme in his opening keynote address to the recent Study and Information Days gathering, an annual event for mem
    Read More
  • Swarco triumphs in Paris
    March 3, 2022
    Swarco has been chosen to help modernise traffic management in Paris by using its MyCity solution
    Read More
  • Decarbonising transport with digital twins
    August 13, 2024
    A research programme will focus on decarbonising transport with digital twins.
    Read More
  • Construction trends in North America, looking to the future
    June 10, 2019
    Exciting changes in construction will reward the aware contractor - *Jeff Winke comments Hop in a car and drive anywhere in the US and chances are the drive will be on roads and highways that need patching, resurfacing, or widening, and bridges often show signs of needed maintenance. Sadly, things are in bad shape. On the last two report cards from the American Society of Civil Engineers, the US infrastructure scored a D+. This year’s report urges the government and private sector to increase spending
    Read More

Highlighted Content