SWARCO Traffic displays its motorway credentials

SWARCO Traffic, the traffic technology specialist, working in partnership with Costain, has won a new contract to provide 78 Variable Message Signs (VMS) to National Highways for its £85 million M56 junction 6 to junction 8 motorway upgrade.

The signs will display variable speed limits, traffic and safety information.

With National Highways, formerly Highways England, looking for an all lane running motorway solution, SWARCO has worked with Costain and Galliford Try to supply 15 Motorway Sign Mark 4s (MS4s), four MS3s, and 59 Advanced Motorway Indicators (AMIs). The varied functionality of these VMS will enable National Highways to manage the motorway in real time and effectively respond to incidents as they occur.

Jack Ellis, SWARCOProject Manager says that this project demonstrates SWARCO’s capabilities as a motorway signage provider: “A modern highway system requires both traffic monitoring and real-time information. Our VMS are capable of responding to incidents as soon as they happen, and these are supplemented by live monitoring which includes automatic event recognition to enable an immediate operator response.

“Our systems are also able to measure speeds and the distances between vehicles, as well as environmental parameters such as wind, humidity, temperature and emissions to provide a holistic overview of our highways.”

The SWARCO signs are controlled by Costain’s Roadside Controller Version 3 (RCV3) and each has been awarded MCH1600 Product Acceptance Certificates from National Highways.

The signs are expected to be installed in February 2022.