Wednesday 10th November 2004

M6 gets embedded traffic warning system

Months of roadworks mean less congestion -- we hope.

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At last, a good use of automotive technology: plans are afoot to plug a 22km stretch of the M6 into a high-tech information system for motorists.

The Highways Agency will start two months of work on Friday 12 November on its £8.7 million MIDAS (Motorway Incident Detector and Automatic Signalling) project, which will see underground traffic sensors installed between Junction 22 (Newton-le-Willows) and Junction 27 (Standish).

Motorists will get continuously updated alerts on incidents, hazards and congestion via electronic roadside signs once the scheme is completed in 2006. The work is being carried out overnight to minimise disruption and will involve closures of some lanes and slip roads so the work can be completed in safety.

Highways Agency Project Manager Ziad el-Balbisi said, "The MIDAS scheme is part of our long-term plans to improve the information we are able to offer to motorists about their journeys. Better information will improve safety, reduce driver stress and help motorists avoid hold-ups.

"We have carefully planned the work to take place overnight so any disruption is kept to a minimum. But it is inevitable that journeys will take longer because of the overnight diversions that are needed so we can carry out the work in safety."

The MIDAS system uses underground sensors to detect slow and stationary traffic and send automatic warnings to motorists via huge electronic signs at the roadside.

By showing warnings about congestion or incidents, the signs give motorists time to slow down before reaching the problem -- reducing the risk of rear-end shunts, stop-start traffic and drivers being kept guessing about the likely length of delays.

The first phase of work will start on 12 November and last for two months. Clearly signed diversions will be put in place for all closures. Work has been scheduled for:

• The Northbound exit and southbound entry slip roads at Junction 27 (Standish) on Friday 12 November and Monday 15 November
• The entry and exit slip roads at Junction 26 (Orrell) on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 November
• Northbound exit and southbound entry slip roads at Junction 25 (Wigan South) on Thursday 25 November and Monday 6 December
• Northbound entry and southbound slip roads at Junction 24 (Ashton-in-Makerfield) Friday 26 November and Friday 3 December
• All exit and entry slip roads at Junction 23 (Haydock) on Tuesday 30 November and Wednesday 1 December

While work is being carried out on the main carriageways, there will be some use of sections of the hard shoulder between junctions 22 and 27 (Newton-le-Willows and Standish) to carry traffic.

However, PistonHeads can think of one downside: if your satnav kit currently gives you traffic warnings that most others don't get, this system means everyone will be using the traffic jam avoidance routes...

[steff]

WTF is the point of that?

Electronic signs showing -

'You are in a traffic Jam'

'Phone home you're going to be stuck here for hours'

and other words of wisdom.

Heres a radical idea - build some more roads.

[anonymous-user]

steff said:

'Phone home you're going to be stuck here for hours'

Not when behind the wheel.

[CJN]

Just like the ones on the M1 & M62 in Leeds.

'Traffic Queue Caution' showed every single night in rush hour - no sh1t. I need to know whether the queue I'm sitting in is because some muppet has crashed or it's just the volume of traffic.

'Caution spray' showed every time it is raining

'Firefighters strike - drive with care' should we not drive with care 24/7?

Very useful & a great way to spend public cash!

[steff]

Perhaps they could show some useful information like

'check out the blonde bird in the BMW'

'and the latest football/rugby results are...'

'no scamera vans for next 20m have fun'

[cazzer]

these bloody things embedded in the m62 send the back end of the marcos sideways when its wet.
Oh yeah...they dig out a square of tarmac, install these things, then seem to put the square back and fill in the seam with neat tar.
Lovely adhesion.....not.

"Queue after next junction" Everyday, every junction.
How useful.

[Sgt^Roc]

steff said:

WTF is the point of that? Electronic signs showing - 'You are in a traffic Jam' 'Phone home you're going to be stuck here for hours' and other words of wisdom. Heres a radical idea - build some more roads.

Yep just think wot else they will be able to plug into it,,,,remeber an article about EVI

[ehughes]

Over here in Holland the ANWB (Dutch equivalent of the AA) has a website which uses the sensors the transport dept. have buried in most of the motorways. The site displays the average traffic speed and traffic jam lengths. You can see traffic flow and jams before you leave home/work and choose a different route or leave early/late instead.

Here's the URL - www.anwb.nl/servlet/Satellite?pagename=OpenMarket/ANWB_verkeer/Verkeersinformatie_nederland

You can click here to see the current traffic jams and their lengths too - www.anwb.nl/servlet/Satellite?pagename=OpenMarket/ANWB_verkeer/Regioverkeerssituatie®io=overzichtallefiles

All my colleagues use this site for their journeys.

It'd be great if they did this in the UK.