The Highways Agency has signed a £490m private finance
initiative (PFI) deal to upgrade its communications network, which
includes road messaging systems, CCTV cameras, roadside emergency
phones and traffic monitoring systems.
The UK Highways Agency currently manages and maintains 28
networks with data coming from over 11,000 roadside devices.
The 10-year project has been awarded to the Fluor-led GeneSys
Telecommunications consortium and replaces a number of smaller
contracts. The new systems are designed to provide more up-to-date
information and pictures using internet-based technology.
New cables to link roadside transmission stations will be
installed on parts of the M3, M4 and M62 motorways in the first
stage of the project.
Implementation will begin in 2006 with completion of the core
transmission network planned for the first quarter of 2007.
