National Highways

{{Short description|Highway authority in England}}

{{About|the highway authority in England|other authorities in the United Kingdom|Roads in the United Kingdom#Administration|other uses}}

{{Use British English|date=August 2021}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}

{{Infobox company

| name = National Highways Limited

| logo = National-highways logo.svg

| type = Government-owned company

| industry = Highway authority

| former_name = {{ubl|Highways England
(April 2015 – August 2021)|

Highways Agency
(March 1994 – March 2015)}}

| founded = {{Start date|df=yes|2015|04|01}}

| defunct =

| hq_location = Bridge House
1 Walnut Tree Close
Guildford
GU1 4LZ{{cite web |title=About us |url=https://highwaysengland.co.uk/highways-england-about-us/ |website=Highways England |date=9 October 2019 |access-date=24 November 2019}}

| motto =

| area_served = {{ubl|England|United Kingdom (road standards only)}}

| key_people = {{ubl|Nick Harris
(CEO)|Gareth Rhys Williams
(Chairman)}}

| num_employees = 6,000 (2024){{cite web |title=How we work |url=https://careers.nationalhighways.co.uk/how-we-work/ |website=National Highways |access-date=27 December 2024}}

| owner = HM Government

| website = {{Official URL}}

}}

National Highways (NH), formerly Highways England and before that the Highways Agency, is a government-owned company charged with operating, maintaining and improving motorways and major A roads in England.{{Cite web|title=Nick Harris appointed Chief Executive at new-look 'National Highways'|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nick-harris-appointed-chief-executive-at-new-look-national-highways|access-date=2021-09-16|website=GOV.UK|language=en}}

It also sets highways standards used by all four UK administrations, through the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges. Within England, it operates information services through the provision of on-road signage and its Traffic England website, provides traffic officers to deal with incidents on its network, and manages the delivery of improvement schemes to the network.

Founded as an executive agency, it was converted into a government-owned company, Highways England, on 1 April 2015. As part of this transition, the UK government set out its vision for the future of the English strategic road network in its Road Investment Strategy. A second Road Investment Strategy was published in March 2020, with the company set to invest £27{{nbsp}}billion between 2020 and 2025 to improve the network as described in the strategy.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/road-investment-strategy-2-ris2-2020-to-2025|title=Road Investment Strategy 2 (RIS2): 2020 to 2025 |publisher=Department for Transport |access-date=11 March 2020}} The current name was adopted on 19 August 2021.

History

File:Highways Agency.svg

The Highways Agency was created as an executive agency of the Department for Transport on 30 March 1994.{{cite Hansard |house=House of Commons |title=Trunk Roads (Review) |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199394/cmhansrd/1994-03-30/Debate-1.html |date=30 March 1994 |column=929 |speaker=John MacGregor |position=Secretary of State for Transport |quote=My target was to complete the review in time for it to provide the basis for the new Highways Agency, which is being launched today.}}

As part of the Department for Transport's 2010 Spending Review settlement, Alan Cook was appointed to lead an independent review of the government's approach to the strategic road network.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/4241/government-response-cook-review.pdf|title=A Fresh Start for the Strategic Road Network: The Government Response|work=Department for Transport|access-date=1 July 2017}} It recognised that the Highways Agency was closer to central government than other infrastructure operators, resulting in a lack of a strategic vision and certainty of funding due to the wider policy environment in which it operated, as well as the limited pressure to drive efficiencies compared to that faced by regulated sectors.{{cite web|url=http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/strategic-roads-network/strategic-road-network.pdf|title=A fresh start for the strategic road network|work=Alan Cook|access-date=1 July 2017|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120606131143/http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/strategic-roads-network/strategic-road-network.pdf|archive-date=6 June 2012|df=dmy-all}} After an announcement on 27 June 2013 by Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, it became a government-owned company with the name Highways England on 1 April 2015.{{cite web |first=Danny |last=Alexander |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/speech-by-chief-secretary-to-the-treasury-danny-alexander-investing-in-britains-future |title=Investing in Britain's future |work=Gov.uk|date=27 June 2013}} In July 2015, Jim O'Sullivan became chief executive, replacing Graham Dalton.{{cite press release |title=Appointment of Highways Agency Chief Executive |publisher=Government News Network |date=12 June 2008 |url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/news/pressrelease.aspx?pressreleaseid=162018 |access-date=8 July 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219152706/http://www.highways.gov.uk/news/pressrelease.aspx?pressreleaseid=162018 |archive-date=19 December 2010 |df=dmy-all }}

In 2020, the agency launched an advertising campaign using the song "Go West" by Village People and covered by Pet Shop Boys. The lyrics changed to "Go Left", encouraging people to stop on the left hand side of the motorway in case of breakdown.{{cite web | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDfdQlSBc6Q | publisher = National Highways | title = Breakdown on a motorway? Go left | date = 19 March 2021 | access-date = 2 January 2023}}

File:Highways England logo.svg

On 19 August 2021, it was announced that Highways England would be rebranding to National Highways, thus removing any reference to England from its name. This move coincided with the permanent appointment of Nick Harris as CEO, after taking over as interim CEO from Jim O’Sullivan in February 2021.{{cite news |last1=Prior |first1=Grant |title=Highways England gets new name and CEO |url=https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2021/08/19/highways-england-gets-new-name-and-ceo/ |access-date=20 August 2021 |work=Construction Enquirer |date=20 August 2021}} It was suggested that the 'national' in the new name refers to the fact that the company is responsible for setting highways standards for the whole of the UK, through the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, even though decisions on the building and maintenance of roads outside of England are devolved to the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive.{{cite news |title=Highways England rebrands as National Highways |url=https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/highways-england-rebrands-as-national-highways |access-date=20 August 2021 |work=The Construction Index |date=19 August 2021}} The renaming has met with some criticism, being the third name for the agency in six years, and with reports that 'Highways Agency' is colloquially used more than either newer name.{{Cite web|title=Highways England to be rebranded as National Highways while still only managing England roadways|url=https://news.sky.com/story/highways-england-to-be-rebranded-as-national-highways-while-still-only-managing-england-roadways-12385635|access-date=2021-08-21|website=Sky News|language=en}} The name has also attracted criticism from the other countries of the UK, particularly in Wales where the use of 'national' has been criticised despite transport being devolved to Wales.{{Cite web|date=2021-08-21|title=£7 million rebranding of Highways England to National Highways slammed as 'bizarre move'|url=https://nation.cymru/news/7-million-rebranding-of-highways-england-to-national-highways-slammed-as-bizarre-move/|access-date=2021-08-21|website=Nation.Cymru|language=en-GB}}

Responsibilities

File:M4 Motorway looking west - geograph.org.uk - 1313366.jpg

File:Rolling roadblock on M40 2018-07-15 03.jpg

National Highways is responsible for operating, maintaining and improving the strategic road network (SRN){{snd}}the motorways and major A roads in England. The SRN comprises over {{convert|4000|mi}} of road and includes various structures such as bridges, tunnels, drainage systems and technology assets including variable message signs and cabling. The SRN includes only around 2% of the total road length in England, but it carries around a third of all its motor vehicle traffic.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/343412/strategic-road-network-report.pdf|title=Use of the Strategic Road Network |work=Department for Transport |access-date=30 June 2017}}

National Highways is responsible for the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) providing the standards, advice notes and other documents relating to the design, assessment and operation of trunk roads, including motorways in the United Kingdom.{{Cite book|url=https://highwaysengland.co.uk/media/0g2mueew/highways_ar21_interactive.pdf|title=Annual Report and Accounts 2021|publisher=Highways England|year=2021|pages=129}} The manual is produced by National Highways in conjunction with the devolved governments of Wales,{{Cite web|title=Highway standards|url=https://gov.wales/highway-standards|access-date=2021-09-16|website=GOV.WALES|language=en}} Scotland{{Cite web|title=Design of trunk roads|url=https://www.transport.gov.scot/transport-network/roads/design-of-trunk-roads/#45113|access-date=2021-09-16|website=www.transport.gov.scot}} and Northern Ireland.{{Cite web|date=2015-07-01|title=Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Design Standards RSPPG E003 {{!}} Department for Infrastructure|url=https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/publications/department-infrastructure-dfi-design-standards-rsppg-e003|access-date=2021-09-16|website=Infrastructure|language=en}} The manual is also used in some parts of the Commonwealth.{{Cite web|title=Highways England to be rebranded as National Highways while still only managing England roadways|url=https://news.sky.com/story/highways-england-to-be-rebranded-as-national-highways-while-still-only-managing-england-roadways-12385635|access-date=2021-09-16|website=Sky News|language=en}} The authority also produces the Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works (MCHW), and Asset Maintenance and Operation Requirements (AMOR) which supersedes the Network Maintenance Manual and Routine and Winter Service Codes, and its predecessor the Trunk Road Maintenance Manual. Contractors and subcontractors are generally paid via a project bank account, which is the agency's default mechanism for ensuring that payments flow down through the supply chain and prevent payment hold-ups for sub-contractors undertaking work on behalf of a prime contractor.Cabinet Office, [https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20230706043351/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/231994/SME_Two_Year_On_Report.pdf Making Government business more accessible to SMEs - Two Years On], p. 26, published on 8 August 2013, archived on 6 July 2023, accessed on 20 November 2024

=Operating the network=

National Highways' operations are split into areas{{cite web |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/743537/Network_Management_Map.pdf|title=Highways England Network management map |work=Highways England |access-date=30 October 2018}} which are loosely based on the regions of England. These regions are subdivided into nine operational areas as well as eleven areas and routes which are managed by DBFO (Design-Build-Finance-Operate) companies. Each area is managed and maintained by an area team (the Managing Agent; MA) and a contractor (the Managing Agent Contractor; MAC). The M6 Toll is a PFI concession which is also part of the strategic road network.

{{clear}}

=Strategic Road Network=

class="wikitable"

|+Strategic Road Network

Operational area || Counties covered (whole and partial) || Roads managed
South West
(former areas 1 & 2)
Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Gloucestershire, Somerset, WiltshireImage:UK-Motorway-M4.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M5.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M32.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M48.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M49.svg, Image:UK road A4.svg, Image:UK road A30.svg, Image:UK road A36.svg, Image:UK road A38.svg, Image:UK road A40.svg, Image:UK road A46.svg, Image:UK road A303.svg
Area 3{{cite web |url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/18780.aspx |title=Area 3 – South West England|work=Highways England }}

|Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Dorset, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Wiltshire

|Image:UK-Motorway-M3.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M4.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M27.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M271.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-A3(M).svg, Image:UK-Motorway-A308(M).svg, Image:UK-Motorway-A404(M).svg, Image:UK road A3.svg, Image:UK road A27.svg, Image:UK road A31.svg, Image:UK road A34.svg, Image:UK road A303.svg, Image:UK road A404.svg

Area 4{{cite web|url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/aboutus/23944.aspx|title=Area 4 Kent/Sussex/M2 etc|work=Highways Agency|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120810121037/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/23944.aspx|archive-date=10 August 2012|access-date=14 May 2009}}East Sussex, Kent, Surrey, West Sussex

|Image:UK-Motorway-M2.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M20.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M23.svg, Image:UK road A2.svg, Image:UK road A20.svg, Image:UK road A21.svg, Image:UK road A23.svg, Image:UK road A26.svg, Image:UK road A27.svg, Image:UK road A259.svg, Image:UK road A2070.svg

East
(former areas 6 & 8)
Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, SuffolkImage:UK-Motorway-M1.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M11.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-A1(M).svg, Image:UK road A1.svg, Image:UK road A5.svg, Image:UK road A11.svg, Image:UK road A12.svg, Image:UK road A14.svg, Image:UK road A47.svg, Image:UK road A120.svg, Image:UK road A141.svg, Image:UK road A414.svg, Image:UK road A421.svg, Image:UK road A428.svg, Image:UK road A1307.svg
Area 7{{cite web |url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/13775.aspx |title=Area 7 Derbyshire/Leicestershire/Notts |work=Highways Agency |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120810121037/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/13775.aspx |archive-date=10 August 2012 |access-date=14 May 2009}}| Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, RutlandImage:UK-Motorway-M1.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M6.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M45.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M69.svg, Image:UK road A1.svg, Image:UK road A5.svg, Image:UK road A6.svg, Image:UK road A14.svg, Image:UK road A38.svg, Image:UK road A42.svg, Image:UK road A43.svg, Image:UK road A45.svg, Image:UK road A46.svg, Image:UK road A50.svg, Image:UK road A52.svg, Image:UK road A453.svg, Image:UK road A516.svg, Image:UK road A5111.svg
Area 9{{cite web |url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/14215.aspx |title=Area 9 Staffordshire / Warwickshire/ West Midlands |work=Highways Agency |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120810121037/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/14215.aspx |archive-date=10 August 2012 |access-date=14 May 2009}}Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, WorcestershireImage:UK-Motorway-M5.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M6.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M40.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M42.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M50.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M54.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M69.svg, Image:UK road A5.svg, Image:UK road A38.svg, Image:UK road A40.svg, Image:UK road A45.svg, Image:UK road A46.svg, Image:UK road A49.svg, Image:UK road A50.svg, Image:UK road A446.svg, Image:UK road A449.svg, Image:UK road A458.svg, Image:UK road A483.svg, Image:UK road A500.svg, Image:UK road A4510.svg, Image:UK road A5148.svg
North West
(former areas 10 & 13)
Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, MerseysideImage:UK-Motorway-M6.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M53.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M55.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M56.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M57.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M58.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M60.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M61.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M62.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M65.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M66.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M67.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M602.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-A74(M).svg, Image:UK-Motorway-A627(M).svg, Image:UK road A41.svg, Image:UK road A55.svg, Image:UK road A56.svg, Image:UK road A66.svg, Image:UK road A483.svg, Image:UK road A494.svg, Image:UK road A550.svg, Image:UK road A556.svg, Image:UK road A585.svg, Image:UK road A590.svg, Image:UK road A595.svg, Image:UK road A663.svg, Image:UK road A5036.svg, Image:UK road A5103.svg, Image:UK road A5117.svg
Area 12{{cite web |url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/20785.aspx |title=Area 12 Lincolnshire/Yorkshire |work=Highways Agency |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120810121037/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/20785.aspx |archive-date=10 August 2012 |access-date=14 May 2009}}Derbyshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West YorkshireImage:UK-Motorway-M1.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M18.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M62.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M180.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M181.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M606.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M621.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-A1(M).svg, Image:UK road A1.svg, Image:UK road A57.svg, Image:UK road A61.svg, Image:UK road A63.svg, Image:UK road A64.svg, Image:UK road A160.svg, Image:UK road A162.svg, Image:UK road A180.svg, Image:UK road A616.svg, Image:UK road A628.svg, Image:UK road A1033.svg
Area 14{{cite web |url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/19413.aspx |title=Area 14 Durham/North Yorkshire/Tyne and Wear |work=Highways Agency |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120810121037/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/19413.aspx |archive-date=10 August 2012 |access-date=14 May 2009}}County Durham, Northumberland, North Yorkshire, Tyne and WearImage:UK-Motorway-A1(M).svg, Image:UK-Motorway-A66_(M).svg, Image:UK-Motorway-A194(M).svg, Image:UK road A1.svg, Image:UK road A19.svg, Image:UK road A66.svg, Image:UK road A184.svg, Image:UK road A696.svg

class="wikitable"

|+Design, build, finance and operate (DBFO) roads

! DBFO area

DBFO nameRoads managedDBFO CompanyCommencement date
5M25, link roads to GLA Boundary, Berks, Bucks, Herts, Essex, Kent & SurreyImage:UK-Motorway-M1.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M3.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M4.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M11.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M20.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M25.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M26.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-A1(M).svg, Image:UK road A1.svg, Image:UK road A2.svg, Image:UK road A3.svg, Image:UK road A13.svg, Image:UK road A20.svg, Image:UK road A23.svg, Image:UK road A30.svg, Image:UK road A40.svg, Image:UK road A282.svg, Image:UK road A316.svg, Image:UK road A405.svg, Image:UK road A1089.svg, Image:UK road A3113.svgConnect Plus (M25)October 2009
25A69 Newcastle to CarlisleImage:UK road A69.svgRoad Link (A69)April 1996
26A19 Dishforth to Tyne TunnelImage:UK road A19.svg, Image:UK road A168.svg, Image:UK road A174.svg, Image:UK road A1053.svgAutolink Concessionaires (A19)February 1997
27M1-A1 Link (Lofthouse to Bramham)Image:UK-Motorway-M1.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-M62.svg, Image:UK-Motorway-A1(M).svgConnect M1-A1April 1996
28A50 / A564 Stoke to DerbyImage:UK road A6.svg, Image:UK road A50.svgConnect A50July 1996
29A1(M) Alconbury to PeterboroughImage:UK-Motorway-A1(M).svgRoad Management Services (Peterborough)April 1996
30M40 (J1-15) Denham to WarwickImage:UK-Motorway-M40.svgUK Highways M40January 1996
31A417 / A419 Swindon to GloucesterImage:UK road A417.svg, Image:UK road A419.svgRoad Management Services (Gloucester)April 1996
32A30 / A35 Exeter to Bere RegisImage:UK road A30.svg, Image:UK road A35.svgConnect A30/A35October 1996
33A1 Darrington to DishforthImage:UK-Motorway-A1(M).svgRoad Management Services (Darrington)March 2003
34A249 Stockbury (M2) to SheernessImage:UK road A249.svgSheppey RouteFebruary 2004

class="wikitable"

|+Toll roads

! Toll concession

ConcessionaireOpening date
Image:UK-Motorway-M6 Toll.svg M6 TollMidland ExpresswayDecember 2003

=Improving the network=

In common with the regulated sectors, National Highways works to fixed funding periods called Road Periods. Each Road Period is currently five years in length, and a particular Road Investment Strategy (RIS) will broadly align with this. Before a new Road Period starts, National Highways will provide the Secretary of State for Transport with an SRN Initial Report, including an assessment of the state of the SRN, maintenance and enhancement priorities, and future development needs. Following this, the government produces a draft RIS setting out the high-level outputs that National Highways will need to deliver within the corresponding Road Period, alongside the proposed funding. National Highways will then respond with a Strategic Business Plan detailing its plans for delivering the RIS. This is reviewed by the Highways Monitor to assess whether the proposed requirements are deliverable with the proposed financial resources and sufficiently challenging. After the Strategic Business Plan and RIS are finalised, National Highways must deliver the agreed outputs and will be monitored on its progress by the Highways Monitor.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/strategic-highways-company-licence|title=Strategic Highways Company: Licence|date=12 March 2015|website=Department for Transport|access-date=7 January 2018}}

Development of the SRN is achieved through National Highways' capital investment programme, currently funded entirely by government through grant-in-aid and set out in the first Road Investment Strategy. For Road Period 1 (2015–20), Highways England invested around £15{{nbsp}}billion in its network, with additional funding to address other local challenges in proximity{{clarify|date=December 2018}} of the SRN relating to the environment; air quality; cycling, safety and integration; and growth and housing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/road-investment-strategy|title=Road investment strategy: 2015 to 2020 - GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-01-07}}

For Road Period 2 (2020–25), National Highways will invest over £27{{nbsp}}billion in its network, of which £14{{nbsp}}billion is for road enhancements. The rest is for operating, maintaining and renewing its roads, and further funding to address challenges on the environment and wellbeing; users and communities; innovation and modernisation; and safety and congestion.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/road-investment-strategy-2-ris2-2020-to-2025|title=Road Investment Strategy 2 (RIS2): 2020 to 2025 |work=Department for Transport |access-date=11 March 2020}} As of this Road Period, National Highways' activities will, at least in part, be funded by vehicle excise duty.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/508505/road-investment-strategy-post-2020-planning-ahead.pdf|title=Road Investment Strategy post 2020: planning ahead|date=16 March 2016|website=Department for Transport|access-date=7 January 2018}}

Organisation

=Head office=

The company head office is in Bridge House, on a one-way gyratory in Guildford, Surrey. Previously its head office was in Dorking, Surrey. In 2014, the agency signed a ten-year lease with the owner of the Guildford facility.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-surrey-28564309|title=Highways Agency to relocate from Dorking to Guildford|publisher=BBC|date=2014-07-30|access-date=2018-12-30}}

=National Traffic Information Service (NTIS)=

Sopra Steria operates the National Traffic Information Service (NTIS) on behalf of National Highways. NTIS is the information hub of England's strategic road network.{{Cite web |url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/1298.aspx |work=Highways Agency |title=National Traffic Information Service |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120810121037/http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/1298.aspx |archive-date=10 August 2012}}

The service is based at Quinton, Birmingham and is responsible for providing accurate, historical, real-time and predictive traffic and incident information to businesses, the travelling public and National Highways' operations. It collects real-time traffic information from over 10,000 fixed sites on the motorway and all-purpose trunk road network from MIDAS and Traffic Monitoring Unit (TMU) electronic loops in the road surface and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras at the roadside. Additionally it uses anonymous floating vehicle traffic data (FVD) from vehicles to supplement the fixed traffic monitoring sites.{{citation needed|date=May 2015}} NTIS also has access to nearly 2,000 CCTV cameras,{{cite web |url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/1291.aspx |work=Highways Agency |title=National Traffic Information Service Overview |access-date=1 January 2008 |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120810121037/http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/1291.aspx |archive-date=10 August 2012}} 300 weather stations, 4,600 roadside electronic signs, 16,000 roadside electronic matrix signals and incident data from over 250 operational partners including the police and local authorities.{{cite web |url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/15228.aspx |work=Highways Agency |title=Collection of Traffic Information |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120810121037/http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/15228.aspx |archive-date=10 August 2012}}

It processes this data to create useful intelligence for operational decision making and dissemination of current and predictive information to the public using the 4,600 roadside variable-message signs,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7155984.stm |work=BBC News |title=Festive test for transport network |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=1 January 2008 |date=21 December 2007}} the Highways England website{{cite web |url=http://www.highways.gov.uk |title=Highways England |work=highways.gov.uk |access-date=28 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080111122923/http://www.highways.gov.uk/ |archive-date=11 January 2008 |url-status=dead }} (including a mobile version), social media channels such as Twitter and the telephone-based Highways England customer contact centre{{cite web |url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/documents/better_info.pdf |work=Highways Agency |date=May 2004 |title=Better Information |access-date=1 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003102526/http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/documents/better_info.pdf |archive-date=3 October 2008 |df=dmy-all }} as well as distributing information to the media and businesses through a number of data feeds.{{cite web |url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/2031.aspx |work=The Highways Agency's Traffic Control Centre Project |title=Services to be Delivered |access-date=1 January 2008 |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120810121037/http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/2031.aspx |archive-date=10 August 2012}} These feeds are widely used by organisations such as the BBC and local newspaper websites for their own traffic information. Services such as Google Maps and sat-nav operators also use National Highways' data for their traffic information.

=Area teams=

The motorway network is divided into "Areas". They are contracts that are awarded by the Department for Transport. The area teams work alongside the National Highways Traffic Officer Service – providing incident support, emergency traffic management and infrastructure maintenance. They are responsible for the management and operation of the roads in their area.{{cite web |url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/1500.aspx |work=Highways Agency |title=How We Manage Our Roads |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120810121037/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/1500.aspx |archive-date=10 August 2012}} In 2009, fleet tracking has been deployed to assist area teams to manage their specialist winter maintenance vehicles during the cold snap.{{cite web |url=http://www.cybit.co.uk/News/Cybit-Vehicle-Tracking-Assists-Road-Safety-During-.aspx |title=Vehicle tracking assists road safety during cold snap |work=Cybit Ltd. |year=2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218071445/http://www.cybit.co.uk/News/Cybit-Vehicle-Tracking-Assists-Road-Safety-During-.aspx |archive-date=18 December 2010}}

=Staff=

National Highways employs uniformed traffic officers; on-road and control room, as well as specialist staff for work in engineering, surveying, accountancy, and administration. There is a graduate entry scheme, with general entry and specialist engineering entry options.{{Cite web |url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/jobs/careers.aspx |title=Career information and graduate scheme |work=Highways Agency |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821005810/http://www.highways.gov.uk/jobs/careers.aspx |archive-date=21 August 2012}} For the Traffic Officer Service each team is supervised by a team manager, one of between six and eight such managers generally working together, to ensure 24-hour management cover.

= Fundraising =

National Highways is partnering with The Tree Council to donate thousands of trees for community projects across the UK, aiming to plant three million trees by 2030 and support biodiversity. The article also highlights various corporate partnerships and fundraising initiatives, including BNP Paribas's donation for an IT suite upgrade, Peninsula Group's Giving Tuesday fundraiser, and M&S's commitment to training young people through its Marks & Start program.{{Cite web |last=May |first=Melanie |date=2024-12-09 |title=National Highways donates 1000s of trees for community projects – & more partnership news |url=https://fundraising.co.uk/2024/12/09/national-highways-donates-1000s-of-trees-for-community-projects-more-partnership-news/ |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=UK Fundraising |language=en}}

Governance and accountability

=Formal governance structure=

National Highways is a private company limited by shares, wholly owned by the Secretary of State for Transport.{{cite web |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/7/enacted|title=Infrastructure Act 2015 |work=legislation.gov.uk |access-date=30 June 2017}} The National Highways Board is the primary governance arm of the company and is accountable to the Secretary of State for Transport. The Board delegate responsibility of the day-to-day running of the company to the Chief Executive who, as the Accounting Officer, is accountable to the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Transport, as the Principal Accounting Officer, for the stewardship of public funds. The Principal Accounting Officer and Secretary of State for Transport are both ultimately accountable to Parliament for the activities and performance of National Highways.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/638619/S160578_Highways_England_Annual_Report_V25_-_Web_.pdf|title=Highways England Annual Report and Accounts 2016-2017 |work=Highways England |access-date=20 August 2017}}

=Performance monitoring=

The Infrastructure Act 2015 established the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) as the monitor for National Highways. ORR is responsible for monitoring and enforcing the performance and efficiency of National Highways, and advising the Secretary of State for Transport on its compliance against the Road Investment Strategy and Licence. The Act also established Transport Focus (previously Passenger Focus) as its watchdog with the purpose of promoting and protecting the interests of users of the strategic road network.

Traffic England

Traffic England is a website{{cite web|url=http://www.trafficengland.com/faq.aspx#a35 |work=Highways Agency |title=Traffic England |access-date=16 July 2013}} that gives information about the latest traffic conditions as well as details of any roadworks or events that may cause congestion.{{cite web |url=http://www.trafficengland.com/faq.aspx |work=Highways Agency |title=Traffic England: Real-time traffic information |access-date=16 July 2013}} By selecting current motorway information users can see the average speed between individual motorway junctions, what is being displayed on all the variable-message signs, and images from traffic cameras. The website is run by National Highways' National Traffic Information Service.

Survive Group

The Survive Group is a partnership between National Highways, the National Police Chiefs' Council, the breakdown/recovery industry and other road service providers. The Survive Group has been established to improve the safety of those who work on the road network and the travelling public and is also dedicated to the promotion of driving safety. The name Survive comes from Safe Use of Roadside Verges in Vehicular Emergencies.

The Survive Group website holds information on the Survive Group membership details and activities being undertaken by the working groups. It also supplies advice on how to drive safely in a wide range of driving conditions, advice on planning journeys. Survive also provides publications and new guidance produced by the Survive members plus news on new initiatives and forthcoming road safety events.{{cite web |url=http://www.survivegroup.org|title=Hard Shoulder Safety and Road Safety |work=Survive Group |access-date=28 February 2017}}

Historical Railways Estate

In 2013, Highways England took over responsibility for the Historical Railways Estate (HRE) from BRB (Residuary) Limited.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/brb-residuary-ltd-has-been-abolished |title=BRB (Residuary) Ltd has been abolished |date=30 September 2013 |work=Gov.uk |access-date=28 February 2017}}

=Bridge infilling=

==Great Musgrave Bridge==

File:Musgrave railway station bridge 09.08.2016R.jpg

In May and June 2021, the space under the road bridge at Great Musgrave in Cumbria was filled with 1,600{{nbsp}}tonnes of aggregate and concrete by Highways England, ostensibly for what HRE managers considered safety reasons. The bridge spanned a {{convert|5|mi|adj=on}} section of trackbed which local rail enthusiasts hoped to restore, linking the Eden Valley and Stainmore railways to create an {{convert|11|mi|adj=on}} tourist line between Appleby and Kirkby Stephen.{{cite news |title=Highways England accused of rail heritage vandalism |url=https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/highways-england-accused-of-rail-heritage-vandalism |access-date=17 June 2022 |work=The Construction Index |date=30 June 2021}}{{cite news |title=Highways England accused of 'vandalism' after bridge infilled with concrete |url=https://www.itv.com/news/border/2021-07-01/highways-england-accused-of-vandalism-after-bridge-infilled-with-concrete |access-date=17 June 2022 |work=ITV |date=1 July 2021}} Accused of 'vandalism', Highways England were forced to apply for retrospective planning permission,{{cite news |last1=Peskett |first1=Ted |title=Eden District Council say Highways England must apply to retain Great Musgrave Bridge infilling |url=https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/19465135.eden-district-council-say-highways-england-must-apply-retain-great-musgrave-bridge-infilling/ |access-date=17 June 2022 |work=News & Star / Cumberland News |date=24 July 2021}} with Eden District council receiving 913 objections and only two expressions of support,{{cite news |last1=Horgan |first1=Rob |title=National Highways' bridge infilling application dealt blow by planning officials |url=https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/national-highways-bridge-infilling-application-dealt-blow-by-planning-officials-10-06-2022/ |access-date=17 June 2022 |work=New Civil Engineer |date=10 June 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Weaver |first1=Matthew |title=Cumbrian council may reverse concrete infilling of Victorian bridge |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/may/09/cumbrian-council-may-reverse-concrete-infilling-of-victorian-bridge |access-date=17 June 2022 |work=Guardian |date=9 May 2022}} and government intervention to pause National Highways plans to infill dozens of other Victorian bridges across England. Advised by planning officers to reject the application, the council's planning committee unanimously refused retrospective planning permission on 16 June 2022.{{cite news |title=Great Musgrave bridge: Concrete infill refused must be removed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-61824392 |access-date=17 June 2022 |work=BBC News |date=16 June 2022}} Restoration of the Musgrave bridge to its former condition would cost an £431,000, in addition to the £124,000 spent on the initial infilling work. In July 2023, National Highways' plans to restore the bridge and remove the infill were criticised by locals as they involved closing the bridge for three months, necessitating long local diversions for regular users of the B6259 which crosses the bridge.{{cite news |title=National Highways slammed again over Great Musgrave bridge fiasco |url=https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/national-highways-slammed-again-over-great-musgrave-bridge-fiasco |access-date=4 July 2023 |work=The Construction Index |date=4 July 2023}} Work began in August 2023 to remove the infill material.{{cite news |last1=Weaver |first1=Matthew |title=Roads agency starts to undo its ‘vandalism’ of Victorian bridge |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/aug/14/roads-agency-starts-to-undo-its-vandalism-of-victorian-bridge |access-date=16 August 2023 |work=Guardian |date=14 August 2023}}

After the Great Musgrave outcry, National Highways developed a new way to assess the abandoned rail bridges and tunnels it controls, with decisions reviewed in collaboration with experts from heritage, environmental and active travel sectors. The stakeholder advisory forum includes the Department for Transport, Sustrans, Railway Paths Ltd, Railway Heritage Trust, the HRE Group, Heritage Railway Association, Natural England, Historic England (also representing Cadw), Historic Scotland and ADEPT.

==Congham Bridge==

At Congham in Norfolk, a railway bridge designed by the pioneering M&GNJR engineer William Marriott was infilled by National Highways in 2021. The railway route had been identified as part of a proposed footpath and cycleway between King's Lynn and Fakenham, and in January 2023 King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council demanded that National Highways submit a retrospective planning application.{{cite news |title=Third council stands up to National Highways' bridge infilling |url=https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/third-council-stands-up-to-national-highways-bridge-infilling |access-date=26 January 2023 |work=The Construction Index |date=26 January 2023}}

==Rudgate Bridge==

An 1847 skewed masonry arch at Rudgate near Tadcaster, designed by John Cass Birkinshaw for the Harrogate–Church Fenton line, was infilled by National Highways in 2021. The agency had to seek retrospective planning approval from North Yorkshire Council for the infilling work and work on trees protected by a tree preservation order.{{cite news |title=North Yorks to decide future of infilled bridge |url=https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/north-yorks-council-to-decide-future-of-infilled-bridge |access-date=27 March 2024 |work=The Construction Index |date=27 March 2024}}

See also

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{reflist}}

=Video clips=