Building a Strategic Road Network Around Our Customers
There’s a clear change of emphasis in the strategic priorities for the UK road network. These will have far-reaching effects on the way that projects are procured, designed and delivered. The change is welcome for companies like Osborne that have always aimed to put the needs of road users at the centre of our thinking.
The road network is essential for the health of our economy and our quality of life. Being able to move people and goods in a fast, efficient and stress-free way is part of being a modern, civilised nation.
The practical challenges are significant. Achieving Highways England’s aim for a 40% reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads by the end of 2020 will obviously need actions to influence driver behaviour. But we can also achieve a lot by better understanding the causes of accidents and what can be done to improve the design of roads, junctions and information systems.
Smart motorways, better routes for cyclists and pedestrians, safer verges, improved signage and road marking all play roles in reducing serious accidents.
Asset Delivery
Data will be key to achieving Highways England’s Asset Delivery strategy. With more detailed and accessible asset data it’s possible to make better decisions about routine maintenance and new schemes, which will help reduce disruption to the network in the longer term.
People and businesses will be satisfied when they have a high degree of confidence in journey times. Making the network safer will help with this objective as, as well as reducing serious injuries, this will also reduce the number of minor knocks that can still lead to significant delays.
The way that we plan and carry out maintenance work is massively important. Technical innovation, night-time working and greater flexibility are increasingly directed at reducing delays and allowing people to plan journeys with confidence.
The changing emphasis places new demands on contractors. We are well aware that delivering on time and on budget is no longer enough. We have to commit ourselves to delivering projects in ways that minimise inconvenience and make the strategic road network a pleasure to use.
