Motorway scheme is the smartest

Topic Awards

Date 10 Oct 2018

The Smart motorways scheme on the M1 between junctions 13 and 16 being progressed by the Galliford Try Costain joint venture has won Highways England’s Smart Motorways Programme project of the year award. All 12 ongoing schemes nationwide were assessed on the basis of safety, customer service and delivery.

Duncan Elliott, Managing Director of Galliford Try Highways, said: “The award is testament to our one-team approach as well as our excellent safety record and the accuracy of our cost forecasting throughout the design and construction process.”

Pascal Baptista, Senior Project Manager, added: “Two aspects of our customer service also impressed our client during their ‘deep dive’ assessment of what we’re doing differently which forms a key part of their governance process. They are our use of more information billboards on the scheme, two at the start, middle and end and each slip road as well as the digital display boards we devised for the two service stations on our stretch of motorway, Northampton and Newport Pagnell.”

“We also held micro and mini public information exhibitions known as PIEs for customers ranging from small groups of local residents right up to large organisations such as the local authorities, police and Royal Mail. This type of interaction is common on Smart motorways schemes but we did it via an exhibition rather than just discussion which was more impactful.”

The award was presented at the Smart Motorways Programme Conference in Coventry on 10 October. Pictured, from left, are Peter Mumford, HE Executive Director of Major Projects; Debraj De, HE Project Manager; Pascal; Mal Bell of Costain; and Richard Allen, AmeyArup Programme Director.