Over 9 months late, England's highways agency launches contract to buy £1bn in IT

National Highways, the UK government-owned company responsible for roads in England, is planning to spend up to £1bn on tech over the next four years via another framework. Formerly known as Highways England, the operation is looking for tech suppliers to support its strategic aims: building, maintaining and improving roads, …

[TheProf]

Information

" and provide data to help road users be better informed about their journeys. "

You are currently 20302 in the queue. Thank you for your patience.

[Flak]

Re: Information

You must be in the queue on the M25 clockwise, just before Junction 12...

Just remember: Your car is important to us!

[H in The Hague]

Change of name - why?

I think that until 2015 the organisation or its predecessor was known as the 'Highways Agency', that year it became 'Highways England'. In August 2021 it rebranded as 'National Highways' although it only deals with motorways and major A roads in England, not in the other countries of the UK. So the new name seems to be not only misleading but its introduction also strikes me as a waste of public money. Bizarrely, its website is still www.highwaysengland.co.uk

Background: https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/government/highways-england-rebrand-not-a-power-grab-25-08-2021/

Yes, I know I'm grumpy :)

[devin3782]

Re: Change of name - why?

Ahhh but that comes out of a "different" budget remember

[Androgynous Cupboard]

Re: Change of name - why?

Pointless, expensive, inaccurate and designed to alienate Scotland and Wales - and you ask why? May I present to you... the current government.

[Fruit and Nutcase]

Re: Change of name - why?

I doubt that No. 10 was involved in the rebranding, else, despite the remit being England, it would be known as Great British Highways

[dogcatcher]

Meanwhile

what happens to the potholes?

[TheProf]

Re: Meanwhile

We've got them covered. With tarpaulin.

[TRT]

I wonder if...

This covers all the issues they've had with firewalls and smart motorways and that kind of shizzle?

[Fruit and Nutcase]

Re: I wonder if...

Probably wanting to erase the association of Highways England with SmartDumb Motorways that kill

[Anonymous Coward]

"and provide data to help road users be better informed about their journeys."

NHDECS3 Alert: "Data shows you are currently 1mph above the speed limit while driving between J5 and J6 northbound, of the M5, we've added £100 to the cost of your monthly road pricing plan for this month".

Highways Agency/NA don't spend 1bn on IT, without knowing they'll recoup that in fines threefold, it's how the organisation is funded.

[Colin Bull 1]

Re: "and provide data to help road users be better informed about their journeys."

About 20 miles of the M6 in Staffs in both directions is currently under speed restrictions because of on going work until 2022. But there is no work going on. It appears to have been fully upgraded to "smart motorway".

What is the delay

Why 20 0r MORE MILES AT A TIME. Why not do it in a rolling 2 mile stretch.

The interest on the cones used in this stretch would probably pay for a few hundred nurses.

Any roadworks increase the likleyhood of accidents, especially in such long stretches. Can the HA/HE/whatever justify these extra accidents.

[Fruit and Nutcase]

Re: "and provide data to help road users be better informed about their journeys."

The roadworks on the M3 for the Dumb Motorway downgrade to took about 10 years. From just north of the Farnborough exit to the M25

[Fruit and Nutcase]

Re: "and provide data to help road users be better informed about their journeys."

Highways Agency/NA don't spend 1bn on IT, without knowing they'll recoup that in fines threefold, it's how the organisation is funded.

...that's the job of their wholly owned subsidiary, "National Highway Robber"

[hoola]

Cloud!!!

What, barely a mention of a cloud service......

I have complete confidence that the companies tendering will change that as Cloud = ££££££, in perpetuity.