Highways England has announced plans for a major upgrade to the A69 Bridge End junction, which aims to reduce congestion, and improve journey times and safety for thousands of drivers. A multi-million upgrade will save drivers around an hour a week, and the installation of permanent average speed cameras to improve safety at two locations along the road, are due to start in the next two months. Highways England project manager Russell Mclean said: “The A69 is used by around 26,000 drivers every day and these essential improvements will make the A69 safer while reducing congestion and improving journeys. “The Bridge End upgrade will also improve access from the A69 into Hexham, reducing the amount of accidents at the junction and aiding any future proposals to dual the route.” The permanent average speed cameras are being installed at two locations along the A69, between Hexham West and Haydon Bridge and between Warwick and Corby Hill following a safety review. Work between Hexham and Haydon Bridge starts in early September for around six weeks. Most of the work will take place in the verge however temporary traffic lights may be needed at times. Work between Warwick and Corby Hill is due to start at the end of October for around three weeks. The improvements are being carried out in partnership with Cumbria and Northumbria police forces. In October work starts on upgrading the junction at Bridge End. This means lowering the A69 under the junction so drivers are able to continue along the route without having to use the roundabout. As part of the work around 90,000 cubic metres of soil is being removed, two new bridges are being created, new drainage is being installed and the entire junction will be resurfaced. The improvements, announced by the Department for Transport in the autumn statement back in 2016, are being funded as part of the £220 million Congestion Relief Fund and can only be spent on the Bridge End and Styford work. To carry out the work a reduced speed limit of 30mph and temporary average speed cameras will be in place for the safety of drivers and the workforce while the junction is upgraded. Alterations to the roundabout will also be made to allow contractors to work safely on the junction. The roundabout will be open to traffic by next winter although some work will need to be completed once the new road layout is in place. Residents and businesses will be invited to an information event that is due to be held in September prior to work starting. Further details will be released shortly. Before work starts at the junction, some minor resurfacing work will be carried out nearby from Monday 09 September so drivers can continue to have smooth and safe journeys.

A £78 million upgrade project on the M6 at Walsall is moving forward with a new junction built at Walsall to replace the bridges over the motorway. This junction 10 will increase capacity at the traffic bottleneck and improve safety, bringing smoother journeys for the thousands that use the route every day.  It will also help facilitate growth at the Black Country Enterprise Zone in Darlaston and improve accessibility for cyclists and pedestrians. “We are delighted to announce that John Sisk & Son have been appointed to lead this important scheme which will tackle congestion at a very busy junction at the heart of the country,” said Highways England Project Manager David Reed. “This is a significant milestone for the project which will ultimately bring smoother and safer journeys for the many thousands of drivers using junction 10 every day.” Construction firm Sisk has been appointed to design and build the new junction on behalf of Highways England and Walsall Council. Preparation work is expected to get underway in the autumn with construction work beginning in January. Work is due to be completed by summer 2022. “With junction 10 on our doorstep, Walsall has excellent connectivity and is an attractive place for investment. Reducing delays and increasing capacity at this vital interchange will play an important role in strengthening our economy and improving the accessibility of our town centre,” added Councillor Adrian Andrew, Deputy Leader of Walsall Council.

Two innovative projects that aim to improve air quality on major UK roads from Amey Consulting have received the support of Highways England. Funding was granted for both projects as part of a £20 million competition from Highways England seeking to unlock ideas that will revolutionise roads and driving. Amey Consulting competed with over 200 applications to secure funding for the scheme.  The first project, ‘Dynamic air quality management’ aims to improve air quality by dynamically changing the speed limit on smart motorways. As part of the project, speed limits can be introduced when poor air quality is predicted, as opposed to pre-defined time periods, allowing motorways to run at the national speed limit for longer. Predictions will be gathered from a dense network of real-time air quality sensors, which will be installed in local communities to monitor for harmful pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The second project, ‘Green Light Optimised Speed Advisory’ was also granted funding and will improve air quality by reducing the number of stop-starts when vehicles leave motorways via inclined off-slips at signalised junctions. Stop-starts of freight vehicles, including hill starts, significantly increase fuel consumption, brake wear and emissions. This project will employ a technique known as Green Light Optimised Speed Advisory (GLOSA), which informs drivers when traffic lights will change, recommending a speed to approach the signals without needing to stop. Mike Wilson, Highways England’s Executive Director for Safety, Engineering and Standards, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer this funding to support ideas around connected vehicles and infrastructure, improved safety, design and construction that reduces cost and delivers more predictable journey times – and to improve air quality. “The competitions opened the door for companies to submit some great entries to us – it was challenging to narrow it down to the final few. We think the competitions have been a great success, which we will consider repeating in the future.”

When we think about where might be one of the worst places to drive in the world, India might may be first to spring to mind. In fact, India’s roads have been named as some of the deadliest and then there’s the chaotic 50-lane motorway that reduces to 20 lanes in Beijing. But rest assured, there are some countries that have built impressive infrastructure to accommodate for great driving conditions. Here’s the top five we’ve explored: Germany – Frankfurt – Autobahn For those among us who love planting the accelerator into the floor panel, Germany exists as the most appealing nation on the planet — all thanks to the Autobahn. Tragically, the reputation the German road network has built itself over the years isn’t exactly one which boasts entire truth. For most of the Autobahn, tempo limits exist, which help aid traffic congestion and prevent serious collisions. Tempos drive down the limit in most parts to 80mph and in some sections even lower, dependent on weather congestions and location. Fortunately, all is not bleak and there is still fun to be had. Outside of the major cities, without the temporary limits, there is no laws, and cars have been known to drive in excess of 200mph — just remember it’s the left lane to overtake! One notable aspect of driving on the Autobahn is the road signs don’t note direction. Unlike the UK, where signs will suggest A1(N) or M8(E), the Autobahn simply consists of numbers, so we would suggest knowing the major destinations on your route before setting off. There is a quick rule of thumb though — if the number is even, it means it goes east or west, and similarly odd goes north and south. Romania – Sibiu – Transfăgărășan Described as the world’s greatest road by Grand Tour presenter and motor enthusiast, Jeremy Clarkson, this highway in Romania sweeps for 150 kilometres, reaching heights at the summit of 2042 metres. The road, which was built in 1974, leads to Balea lake and on both the ascent and descent you are able to indulge in some of the most breath-taking views this world has to offer. Unfortunately, due to weather conditions, the road is usually only open during the summer months, as the top of the path can be subject to heavy snow and fog. What may exist as exhilarating hairpin turns in the summer can be treacherous and ultimately deadly obstacles in the winter. Argentina – Rio Gallegos – Ruta 40 Route 66 in the United States is world-renowned as one of the most sought-after highways to complete a road trip. However, Ruta 40 offers up stiff competition to its North American counterpart. Stretching for more than 3,000 miles, the route crosses the Andes mountain range on 27 different occasions, as well as running through 20 national parks and 18 major rivers. Much of the journey navigates through completely desolate land, but the 5,000m steep journey provides travellers with the opportunity to indulge in some unbelievable attractions, including the Perito Moreno Glacier. Despite the road being built in 1935 and much of it being exposed to extremely harsh weather conditions all year round, the vast majority of the surface remains as smooth tarmac, creating an optimal driving experience. Norway – Molde – Atlantic Road After witnessing the aesthetic beauty of this road in Scandinavia, it will come as no surprise that it has collected a host of awards, ‘including the world’s best road trip’, the ‘world’s best for car testing’, and ‘the world’s best place to mend a broken heart’. The engineering feat which connects a host of small islands and islets, amalgamates land, sea, and sky like nothing else in the world. As you navigate your way along the 8km trek, take in the scenery by stopping at the various look-out points along the way. Scotland – Edinburgh – Queensferry Crossing Built 207m into the sky, the crossing, which was built to precede the Forth Road Bridge, broke numerous Guinness World Records, including the longest continuous concrete pour — 15 days. The bridge, which allows people to commute from Edinburgh to Fyfe, opened on 30th August 2017 and cost the Scottish government £1.3 billion. On average, approximately 77,000 vehicles cross the bridge every day and it proves a vital transport link between England and North Scotland cities, such as Aberdeen. Although existing as the longest three-tower, cable stayed bridge in the world, the Queensferry Crossing took that crown from the bridge beside it, which is also an incredible engineering feat. Bio: piece provided by Vindis: an Audi dealership with years of expertise to help meet your needs when seeking out a new car. Sources https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2015/10/chinas-50-lane-traffic-jam-is-every-commuters-worst-nightmare/409639/ https://www.speedydrive.ae/blog/reasons-dubai-have-the-best-road-infrastructure-in-mena/ https://www.inyourpocket.com/bucharest/The-Transfagarasan-Highway_55534f https://www.theforthbridges.org/queensferry-crossing/ https://www.visitnorway.com/places-to-go/fjord-norway/northwest/activities-and-attractions/atlanticroad/ http://www.turismoruta40.com.ar/en/top-ten-ruta40.html