Skip to main content

WJ pops up in the UK

As a “key worker” company under the UK’s COVID pandemic designation, WJ Group is placing temporary - or “pop-up” – markings for bike and walking lanes.
July 24, 2020 Read time: 2 mins
WJ puts finishing touches on temporary markings at London’s Nightingale Hospital

With the coronavirus crisis likely to continue for some months, the concern is that people will shy away from public transport and revert to using their own cars, according to the company.

Consequently there is an urgent need to make the alternatives of cycling and walking safer and more attractive. Lack of traffic has made safe road space available to cyclists and pedestrians of all generations and the government is keen to continue this beyond lockdown and into the so-called new normal period.

The UK Government has backed up this change with the recent launch of a £2 billion (US$2.5 billion) funding initiative to boost healthier, greener, active transport as the country emerges from lockdown.

WJ is using a range of high-performance thermoplastics, paints and preformed markings for permanent solutions. But the company said that it is also advising on temporary markings with tape, self-adhesive studs and their innovative Applied Media floor signage to create more flexibility.

For some time, the Applied Media floor graphic system has been approved for use by TfL (Transport for London) on the London Underground, also used for London Pride rainbow crossings and very recently used for NHS Nightingale Hospital bus shuttle and social distancing measures on the Dockland Light Railway.

WJ has extensive experience particularly in temporary markings, most notably providing all the markings for the London 2012 Olympic Route Network, explained Martin Webb, operational director for WJ Group. The company is also the lead provider of markings for Highways England across England’s Strategic Road Network.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • London’s pedestrians’ to gain greater sense of safety
    March 11, 2014
    The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and Transport for London (TfL) are keen to trial cutting-edge pedestrian crossing sensors to help make it easier and safer for people to cross the road throughout England’s capital. The news comes alongside the completion of the first phase of the Pedestrian Countdown programme and the publication of 'Safe London Streets - Our Six Road Safety Commitments', a new document which makes clear how TfL, the boroughs and its partners will meet London's target of reducing the nu
  • WJ invests in Accelerated Product Tester
    September 12, 2023
    The wheel turntable from EH Hassell and Son in England can assess the durability of road markings, high friction surfacing and other materials.
  • Testing high performance road markings
    February 9, 2012
    High performance markings are among the safety products used to guide traffic safely, but they must be tested and checked. Patrick Smith reports. Road construction zones, zebra crossings, tunnels and areas with frequent fog are particular focal points with regard to road user safety. This is why manufacturers, authorities and contractors are always eager to use innovative road markings and special studs or, where necessary, lane control devices to assist both drivers and pedestrians in all conditions, parti
  • WJ’s Guardian stud machine to be launched in Europe
    February 23, 2018
    Stud placement just got a lot safer for road operatives in continental Europe thanks to a collaboration between the UK’s WJ Group and Belgium’s ACB. UK-based WJ Group and ACB formed their joint venture company, ACBWJ around 2006 to share product knowledge, marketing and research into thermoplastics and road markings. ACBWJ will officially launch WJ’s Guardian stud placement vehicle into the European market at the Intertraffic exhibition in Amsterdam from March 20-23.