🕒 Article read time: 2 minutes
New state-of-the-art weather stations to prepare England's major roads for winter
With winter fast approaching, National Highways is investing £15.4m in a new state-of-the-art network of weather stations, including supporting infrastructure, that will provide real-time data of road conditions.
Featuring atmospheric sensors and road sensors cabled from the unit to the road, each weather station can measure snow and ice, visibility in fog, high winds, flooding, air temperature, humidity and precipitation for the hazard of aquaplaning.
“Our investment in upgrading our weather stations is just the latest way we are developing our weather forecasting capability,” says Darren Clark, Severe Weather Resilience Manager at National Highways.
“We are ready for the winter season and will be out and about day or night when the roads need salting.
“We have the people, systems and technology in place to know where and when to grit and will be working to keep people moving safely on our roads whatever weather conditions we get.”
As the clocks go back this weekend (29 October at 2am), the organisation is ready for the winter season with more than 530 gritters to call upon in adverse conditions and around 280,000 tonnes of salt at 128 depots across its network.
Working with manufacturer Vaisala, National Highways will be upgrading 125 weather stations by 2025 and there are plans for around 100 more units between 2025 and 2030.
The first weather station will be introduced on the A56 near Accrington on 24 October and is expected to be operating the following day.
Make sure you're prepared for autumn driving conditions with National Highways.
Published On: 26/10/2023 12:00:17
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In brief
Logistics UK’s Digital Transformation in Logistics event proves big success
Logistics UK hosted its first innovation conference on 19 October – Digital Transformation in Logistics – with West Midlands Mayor Andy Street delivering the keynote speech. He highlighted that logistics is one of eight sectors he is targeting for growth and explained how the West Midlands Combined Authority is working to bring logistics businesses and innovators together.
Speakers throughout the day highlighted where innovation can support the logistics sector, including on efficiency, safety, decarbonisation, modal shift and trade.
Logistics UK is working to highlight innovation in the logistics sector and increase understanding between the sector and tech innovators. This was the purpose of the conference and will bethe crux of upcoming Innovation Working Group meeting on the morning of 8 November.
Email bgarratt@logistics.org.uk for further information and to book your place in this group.
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