Digital Roads 2025 – Improving operations and maintenance

Our operations will leverage data to drive increasingly pre-emptive interventions - resulting in improved asset resilience, increased asset life and a safer, smoother running network.

Our focus on Digital Roads means that each year the operation and maintenance of the SRN will be improved:

automatic cone laying
Trials of the use of connected and autonomous plant to perform maintenance activities - building our understanding of their impact on safety and delivery times
2020
Control centre colleagues
Full deployment of Advanced Traffic Management System. All Control Centre colleagues have received training on how to utilise the the new system to better control network flow.
Control centre colleague
Increased remote diagnosis of roadside technology assets to improve safety by reducing on-site human intervention.
2021
person looking at a computer
Use of technology solutions (e.g. enhanced data analytics) reduces the risk of working in live traffic.
Control centre colleague
'Single View of the Network’ includes predictive capabilities, enabling faster incident detection and response.
2022
user sitting at desk
Production and sharing of more reliable network information (e.g. about roadworks), enabling our customers to make more informed journey decisions.
person using a drone
Regular use of technology solutions (e.g. aerial surveillance) for inspections to improve efficiency and safety.
person sitting at a desk in front of a computer
Roadworks planning tool provides an integrated view of progress across all roadworks programmes. This improves efficiency and helps minimise disruption to customer journeys.
Icon of an active variable message sign
Automatic update of variable message signs, allowing customers to respond quickly to potential problems.
2023
person sitting at a desk in front of a computer
Use of artificial intelligence and machine learning tools to predict and prevent asset failures.
icon showing sensors on the road
Access to more reliable weather, asset, and network condition data through third-party partnerships and an expanded sensor network for greater oversight, improved safety and control of the network
icon showing emergency service vehicle
We share accurate data about road incidents with emergency services, enabling faster incident resolution.
Icon showing car on the road
Customers are provided with up-to-date roadworks information through a range of digital channels, supporting them to better plan their journeys.
2024
construction worker on site
Updated contracts and standards to encourage maintenance partners to increase the use of innovative technology (e.g. semi-automated plant to improve safety).
traffic officer talking into their radio
Traffic Officers use digital tablets to provide up-to-date information to customers and to exchange information (e.g. traffic condition) with Control Centres in real-time.
icon of people sticking their thumbs up
Operations use data to drive increasingly pre-emptive interventions - resulting in improved asset resilience, increased asset life and a safer, smoother running network.
2025