Highways England

Highways England is a UK Government agency responsible for the operation, maintenance, and improvement of the motorway network and major A roads in England. It was formed on April 1, 2015, as a successor to the Highways Agency, with the aim of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the road network, as outlined in the Infrastructure Act 2015 and the Transport Act 2000. The organisation is sponsored by the Department for Transport and works closely with other agencies, such as Transport for London and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Highways England also collaborates with international organisations, including the European Union's Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Directorate-General and the International Transport Forum.

● History

The history of Highways England dates back to the 1950s, when the UK government began to develop a comprehensive network of motorways, including the M1 motorway and the M6 motorway, with the help of engineers like Ove Arup and Sir Owen Williams. The Highways Agency was established in 1994 as an executive agency of the Department for Transport, with the responsibility of managing the strategic road network, which includes A1(M) motorway, A3(M) motorway, and A38(M) motorway. In 2015, the Infrastructure Act 2015 came into effect, which led to the creation of Highways England as a government-owned company, with the goal of improving the road network, as envisioned by George Osborne and Patrick McLoughlin. This change was also influenced by the Autumn Statement 2014 and the Summer Budget 2015, which outlined the UK government's plans for infrastructure development, including the Northern Powerhouse and the Midlands Engine.

● Organisation

Highways England is led by a Chief Executive, who is responsible for the overall strategy and direction of the organisation, and is accountable to the Secretary of State for Transport, currently Grant Shapps. The organisation is divided into several directorates, including the Operations Directorate, the Engineering Directorate, and the Commercial Directorate, which work together to deliver the organisation's objectives, in collaboration with other agencies, such as the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency. Highways England also has a number of regional teams, which are responsible for the management and maintenance of the road network in their respective areas, including the North West, North East, and South East regions. The organisation works closely with other government agencies, such as the Home Office and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the road network, as required by the Road Safety Act 2006 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

● Road Network

The road network managed by Highways England includes over 4,300 miles of motorways and major A roads, including the M25 motorway, M4 motorway, and A1(M) motorway, which connect major cities like London, Birmingham, and Manchester. The network also includes a number of toll roads, such as the M6 Toll and the Dartford Crossing, which are managed by private companies like M6 Toll Limited and Dartford River Crossing Limited. Highways England is responsible for the maintenance and improvement of the road network, including the repair of roads, bridges, and tunnels, such as the Dartford Tunnel and the Blackwall Tunnel, as well as the management of traffic flow and the provision of traffic information to drivers, using systems like Variable Message Signs and Traffic England. The organisation works closely with other agencies, such as Transport Scotland and the Welsh Government, to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the road network, as required by the Scotland Act 1998 and the Government of Wales Act 1998.

● Operations

Highways England has a number of operational teams that work around the clock to manage and maintain the road network, including the National Traffic Operations Centre, which is responsible for monitoring and managing traffic flow on the network, using data from traffic cameras and sensors. The organisation also has a number of maintenance teams that are responsible for the repair and maintenance of the road network, including the repair of potholes and the replacement of road markings, as well as the management of winter maintenance operations, such as gritting and snow clearance. Highways England works closely with other agencies, such as the Met Office and the Highway Code, to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the road network, as required by the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Traffic Management Act 2004.

● Projects and Initiatives

Highways England has a number of projects and initiatives underway to improve the road network, including the Smart Motorways programme, which aims to increase the capacity of the motorway network by using variable speed limits and hard shoulder running, as well as the Road Investment Strategy, which outlines the organisation's plans for the development of the road network over the next few years, including the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon improvement scheme and the M20 junctions 3 to 5 smart motorway scheme. The organisation is also working on a number of safety initiatives, such as the Safe Roads, Safe Lives strategy, which aims to reduce the number of road accidents on the network, as well as the Well-managed Highway Infrastructure code of practice, which provides guidance on the management of the road network, as required by the Highway Code and the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions. Highways England is also collaborating with other agencies, such as the European Commission and the International Road Federation, to share best practices and develop new technologies, such as intelligent transport systems and connected and autonomous vehicles.

● Criticisms and Controversies

Highways England has faced a number of criticisms and controversies since its creation, including concerns over the environmental impact of the road network, such as air pollution and noise pollution, as well as the safety record of the network, including the number of road accidents and fatalities. The organisation has also faced criticism over its handling of major incidents, such as the 2018 Beast from the East and the 2019-20 United Kingdom floods, as well as its response to public consultations and planning inquiries, such as the A303 Stonehenge tunnel and the Lower Thames Crossing. Highways England has also been subject to scrutiny from Parliamentary committees, such as the Transport Select Committee and the Public Accounts Committee, as well as from campaign groups, such as the Campaign for Better Transport and the RAC Foundation, which have raised concerns about the organisation's governance and accountability, as required by the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 and the Infrastructure Act 2015.