M1 Smart Motorway

WSP undertook the design of the 20mile stretch between junction 28 near Mansfield and junction 31, along with site supervision duties throughout the construction phase, which started in August 2014. Working as an integrated team under the “One Team” banner with Costain, Highways England’s delivery partner, the WSP team successfully delivered the longest smart motorway scheme to this design implemented so far.

Location

Near Mansfield, England, UK

Client

Highways England

Project Status

Completed

“The team has overcome many challenges along the way”, said WSP project manager, Dave Farrow. “Designing to what at that stage was a completely new standard was an exciting opportunity, which meant extensive engagement with local stakeholders.”

Key innovations include:

Radar traffic detection rather than traditional loops in carriageway, avoiding saw-cuts in the road surface and ensuring that detection is not compromised by carriageway re-surfacing.
Close working with the supply chain to produce an alternative CCTV technology for use on unlit carriageways.
This produced an innovative CCTV solution utilising infra-red illuminators, which Highways England’s regional control centre operators found highly effective.
First use of the new flag type gantry structure for the large cantilever information signs.
Many new gantries mounted on existing foundations providing economic and sustainable solutions.
In environmentally sensitive areas, alternative colours used to minimise visual impact of structures.

overhead gantries

17

electronic driver information signs

66

electronic lane control signals

74

CCTV cameras with infrared capaBILITY

94

EMERGENCY REFUGE AREAS

20

SURFACE WATER DRAINAGE

32 MILES

Highways England senior programme manager Andy Kirk said: “We are delighted that the last stretch between Chesterfield and Worksop has opened today, which will tackle congestion and improve journey times for drivers. The hard shoulder has been permanently converted to an extra lane to significantly increase capacity, and we’ll keep vehicles moving using variable speed limits.”