National Highways has announced the success of a new AI-powered technology designed to ease congestion on England’s roads. It has resulted in ‘2,100 fewer journeys being delayed’ during a two-month trial on the M6.
Developed by Cambridge-based Alchera Technologies, the system uses AI to accurately predict traffic flow to optimise roadworks schedules, balancing cost efficiency with minimal disruptions for drivers.
Traffic flow data plays a crucial role in planning roadworks, ensuring both safe conditions for workers and smoother journeys for drivers.
The technology was tested between junctions 21a and 23 of the M6 in partnership with Costain. It also saved an estimated £45,000 during the trial by consolidating work, reducing road closures, and even cancelling one in every 28 shifts.
Alchera predicts that rolling out this traffic management technology across the UK’s entire road network could prevent 900,000 delayed journeys and save £18.2 million in public funds. The system was one of three finalists in a competition aimed at improving driver experience of road works, each receiving £60,000 to trial their products on real-life situations on our motorways and A-roads.
Nicola Bell, National Highways Executive Director for Major Projects, said: “When we launched this competition, our goal was to find new ideas to help reduce the impact of roadworks on road users and people living near works. So it’s fantastic news that we are already starting to see how effective these new innovations can be both in reducing delays and costs.
“We know roadworks are frustrating for people but they are an essential part of keeping our roads safe and moving so anything we can do to ease the impact of these important works is to be welcomed.”
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