Smart Motorways M25 Junctions 25 to 27 Delivered 14 Weeks Early
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Smart Motorways Junctions 23 to 27 M25 Issue No. 4 Modernising the operation of our motorways Facts and Junctions 25 to 27 figures: Length of this Section: delivered 14 weeks early 8 miles Final testing and commissioning to bring junctions 25 to 27 to smart motorway ‘all lanes running’ standard is now complete. The scheme fully Emergency Refuge opened to four lanes running on 7 November 2014, 14 weeks ahead of Areas: 4 programme, bringing much needed congestion relief to the surrounding areas in Hertfordshire and Essex. Directional Drill Shots: 36 Superspan Gantries: 6 Hockey Stick Gantries: 14 CCTV Cameras: 22 Slot Drain: 7.5 miles Central Reserve Barrier: 6.2 miles The scheme commenced in January limits are in use. All signs and signals are 2013 at junction 23 and, despite linked by an underground duct network working through one of the wettest which contains enough cable to link winters recorded in recent times, the London with Newcastle. team managed to deliver 16.2 miles (25.5 kilometres) in just under 22 The scheme has seen the introduction months. The scheme converted the hard of new technology such as ‘Infrared shoulder to a running lane and installed CCTV’, ‘Wavetronix’ and ‘remote LED a new slip formed concrete barrier to traffic management signs’ which aid the central reservation. New signs and in monitoring traffic flow and keeping signals were installed and will be used to the traveling public safe, which will inform the travelling public of changing now be rolled out as standard in conditions and when variable speed forthcoming schemes. Improvements to the M25! During 2014 the Highways Agency opened two sections of smart motorway on the M25, junctions 5 to 7 on the Kent/Surrey border and junctions 23 to 25 on the Hertfordshire/Essex border. In November 2014, a new improved section of the M25 opened, improving journeys for road users and benefiting the economy. The new section of smart motorway controlling speeds to improve traffic opened between junctions 25 and 27 on flow and providing better information to the Hertfordshire/Essex border. On the drivers on overhead signs. Emergency new M25 sections the hard shoulder will refuge areas are also available. This be used as a permanent traffic lane. This extra lane increases capacity to reduce is referred to as ‘all lane running’. congestion while maintaining safety. How to use all lane running The improvements are being delivered There is no hard shoulder on these at a significantly lower cost than a sections of motorway; there is a conventional motorway widening Members of the broken white line between each lane, scheme and with less impact on the indicating that all lanes have the same Project Team environment during construction. status. Refuge areas are available for emergency use. Variable speed limits It is important to the Highways Agency will be used during busy periods to that all road users understand the layout control the flow of vehicles and improve and signs used on our smart motorways An executive Agency of the the flow. The current speed limit will be sections, so we are urging all road users Department for Transport. displayed on signs over or at the side of to find out more about the different types the carriageway. We use a red X symbol of technology and features used. to show that a lane is closed because people are working in the road, or there What are the benefits? The contractor responsible for is an incident or some other obstruction. Smart motorways relieve congestion and ensuring the project is designed Driving in a lane with a red X symbol smooth the flow of the traffic, improving and built in accordance with is dangerous and against the law. You safety and journey times, and supporting client’s requirements. could be prosecuted. economic development. What do I do if I need to stop? We already have evidence of the benefits Only stop on the motorway if there a smart motorway scheme can bring. Design Engineer, appointed by is no alternative. If you need to stop The first smart motorway opened to SBBJV as the designer for the in an emergency, use an emergency traffic on the M42 in the Midlands in project. refuge area, motorway service area or 2006. Analysis of the data gathered leave at the next junction. If that is not since opening found that journey times possible try and get your vehicle off the improved and emissions reduced due to carriageway, if it is safe to do so. The holding company traffic flowing more smoothly. (a partnership between If you have no choice but to stop in a In addition, personal injury accidents Skanska/Balfour Beatty/ live lane, put your hazard warning lights have reduced by more than half since Egis/Atkins). Awarded the on to help other drivers see you and hard shoulder running was introduced, help Highways Agency control room contract for the operation and with an overall reduction in the severity maintenance of the M25. staff spot you on CCTV. If you are in the of accidents. left hand lane, and if it is safe to do so, exit the vehicle via the left hand door. The ‘Get Smart’ campaign has been Wait behind the barrier if possible. If you created to help road users understand cannot exit the vehicle, do not feel it is the different driving environments, types safe to do so, or there is no other place of signs and signals they will see and of relative safety, remain in the vehicle. what to do in the event of a breakdown Keep your seat belt on and dial ‘999’. when travelling on a smart motorway. Get smart, know your motorways Each of these key themes is easily Smart motorways use technology identifiable through a series of icons that to help relieve congestion and make appear on all of the campaign materials journey times more reliable. This includes and on the Agency’s website. Considerate Constructors Following our national silver award last year, we are pleased to announce that Environmental Update Skanska Balfour Beatty scored an impressive 44 Facts and figures: waste material i.e. pulverised fly ash points in its first inspection Better design: the project concept and ground-granulated blast-furnace • slag. this year which included uses the existing hard shoulders “exceptional” scores in as running lanes, negating the All construction waste was • respecting the community, need to widen large sections of the segregated on site at designated motorway. These areas required waste compounds. 100% of protecting the environment, 50% less aggregates as the project segregated waste was diverted from securing everyone’s safety incorporated as much of the existing landfill. and care about appearance. asset as possible within the new • Alternative disposal routes were also scheme. explored, with all vegetation removal This is a scheme designed to encourage best practice • All soft earthworks material from harvested as biomass for generation the scheme was re-used. This of heat and power. and create a more positive was achieved by designing two Management of aggregates image of the construction environmental bunds to re-use over • Over 130,000 tonnes of aggregates industry. Construction 250,000m3. obtained from excavation and projects are assessed • The amount of cement substituted crushed hard material have been on their performance with the concrete mixes varied recycled back into the schemes. on key criteria such as between 28 and 50%. In total we • 93% of all unbound aggregates environmental performance, have poured over 50,000m3 of used have been from recycled working safely and concrete with an average cement sources representing a saving of considerately and being replacement of 35% making use of 6kg CO /tonne. 2 a good neighbour. Being nominated for an award How do I find out more information? places us in the top 7.5% of projects in the UK. For M25 scheme specific information follow the links: M25 Junctions 5-7: www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/ m25-junctions-5-7/ M25 Junctions 23-27: www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/ m25-junctions-23-27/ You can find out more about smart motorways by visiting the Highways Agency webpage via the following link: www.highways.gov.uk/smartmotorways Or follow us on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Smart-Motorways-M25/1398442173726130 If you have any further queries please contact the Highways Agency Information Line by emailing ha_ info@ highways. gsi. gov. uk or calling 0300 123 5000. Community Liaison Contact Us Community relations team on: 01727 744933 Community Relations Manager Andy Graham waves goodbye to the siblings as they leave for their activity weekend away [email protected] Community Relations Team SBBJV M25 Widening Project Site Office London Colney St Albans Hertfordshire AL2 1FF http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/ m25-junctions-23-27-managed-motorways/ Contacting the Highways Agency The Highways Agency Information Line (HAIL) is 0300 123 5000 Our nominated project charity is Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice: [email protected] “Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice is a dynamic and innovative children’s hospice service, providing practical and emotional www.highways.gov.uk/trafficinfo support to life-limited and life-threatened children and their 24 hours a day, 365 days a year families, within the communities of North London.” We have made donations to them over the life of the project @highways_agency or for the full index visit http:// and in September 2014 donated a further £3,100 towards a www.highways.gov.uk/twitter siblings’ weekend away. Opportunities like the activity weekend away are really important for these children.