Hello National Highways

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KeithW
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Re: Hello National Highways

Post by KeithW »

EpicChef wrote: Thu Oct 21, 2021 02:58
It's really astounding how signals originally designed in the 60s are still going strong in some places on the UK network. Yes, there are huge upgrades on most major stretches, but is it appropriate to use MS1s on their own at all? Should there be a requirement for MS3 or MS4 VMS every mile instead of MS1 every 2 miles?
Frankly every 2 miles is more than enough, the important thing from a drivers point of view is to have information in time to make an informed decision and that applies to all strategic roads as far as I am concerned. Given that the A19 between Thirsk and the A1 at Seaton Burn carries so much traffic I would tend to give it the same priority as the A1(M). In fact part of the current upgrade between Norton and Wynard is installing matrix signs, the gantries are now in place but the signs have yet to appear. It wont be long though as they are now promising to wrap the whole thing up before Christmas well ahead of schedule.

The signs are going in at just about right position as any decision about the best option for heading north has to be taken before Wynard as from there I can either take the A689 to the A1(M) and A1 Western bypass or continue on up the A19. The worst of all worlds is when you have just passed such a decision point and you end up stuck in a queue for hours as the result of some incident.

Note that AADF on that stretch of the A19 is over 80,000 and rising while the AADF on the A1(M) Darlington bypass is around 40,000
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Vierwielen
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Re: Hello National Highways

Post by Vierwielen »

Osthagen wrote: Wed Oct 20, 2021 20:47 Unless I am mistaken, you are among the individuals to have criticised users whose preference is for the A1(M) between Hook Moor and Gateshead to be re-designated as M1. The key criticism against this renumbering is the cost of replacing signs, and precisely this applies to renumbering A74(M) to M74.

Renumbering to M6, on the other hand, would cost FAR less because the majority of signs on the A74(M) corridor contain the number ''M6'' overlain with a ''A74(M)'' patch.
That might have been eh case when the signs were erected, but signs do wear out and need to be replaced from time to time. The real cost is the cost of the bureauracy needed to update all the relevant paperwork, not to mention keeping the public, and especially visitors informed.
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Conekicker
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Re: Hello National Highways

Post by Conekicker »

Another "successful improvement" from NH?

https://www.saferhighways.co.uk/post/fu ... 5e300915b5
Patience is not a virtue - it's a concept invented by the dozy beggars who are unable to think quickly enough.
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exiled
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Re: Why have Highways England decided to change their name to National Highways?

Post by exiled »

KeithW wrote: Thu Oct 21, 2021 11:39
Peter350 wrote: Wed Oct 20, 2021 16:03 Why, just why?

From HA to HE to NH within the space of less than a decade. It was perfectly fine as it was. National Highways makes no sense as it still only covers English roads, unless they plan to take over the responsibility of Scottish and Welsh roads, likely to the bemusement of Sturgeon and Drakeford. Also HETO has a much better ring to it than NHTO, and HATO even more so.

I know not everyone will agree with me so I’ve set up a poll to determine which name suits (or suited) the organisation best.

EDIT: There now is no poll as the thread I created has been merged with this one.
Note that England is just as much a Nation as Scotland or Wales. The problem is that the name Highways Authority is ambiguous as frankly is National Highways, personally I thought that Highways England was fine but I am not going to lose any sleep over it. Governments always feel they have to be seen as doing something, it has been so at least as far back as when Hammurabi introduced his code in ancient Babylon.
Highways England does the job the best of the three. It is about Highways, in England. Given that national can have a range of meanings in the UK, and the use of Transport Scotland or Transport Wales else where, the use of 'National' does not imply 'England', it implies 'UK' which is the intent. The change to 'UK' or 'National' of a few public bodies that have slim or no role in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a sign that Johnson is not to be trusted over devolution.
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Richard_Fairhurst
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Re: Why have Highways England decided to change their name to National Highways?

Post by Richard_Fairhurst »

Peter350 wrote: Wed Oct 20, 2021 16:03From HA to HE to NH within the space of less than a decade. It was perfectly fine as it was. National Highways makes no sense as it still only covers English roads
If only. It does have some competence (if that's the word) in Scotland and Wales, principally knocking down/infilling perfectly decent old railway bridges.
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Gareth
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Re: Hello National Highways

Post by Gareth »

Pointless exercise. Not doubt in a few years someone will make a nice penny remaking it again. Maybe "Highways Authority" with the logo being an "A" superimposed over an outline of Great Britain. Just made that up on the hoof but it's the sort of thing marketing companies make a fortune with nowadays. Nice work if you can get it.
SteelCamel
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Re: Why have Highways England decided to change their name to National Highways?

Post by SteelCamel »

Richard_Fairhurst wrote: Fri Oct 22, 2021 18:27
Peter350 wrote: Wed Oct 20, 2021 16:03From HA to HE to NH within the space of less than a decade. It was perfectly fine as it was. National Highways makes no sense as it still only covers English roads
If only. It does have some competence (if that's the word) in Scotland and Wales, principally knocking down/infilling perfectly decent old railway bridges.
Highways England inherited what was BRB Residuary Ltd. Which in turn was what was left of British Rail after transferring everything actually needed to run the railway to Railtrack (and later Network Rail) and selling off anything else that was saleable. So they're left with a liability that needs maintenance but can't generate income. Presumably the Scottish and Welsh governments refused to have this dumped on them, so HE got stuck with it.
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chaseracer
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Re: Hello National Highways

Post by chaseracer »

Conekicker wrote: Thu Oct 21, 2021 22:35 Another "successful improvement" from NH?

https://www.saferhighways.co.uk/post/fu ... 5e300915b5
Outstanding.

Of course, what we really need* is a Cones Hotline...
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Glen
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Re: Why have Highways England decided to change their name to National Highways?

Post by Glen »

SteelCamel wrote: Fri Oct 22, 2021 20:01 Highways England inherited what was BRB Residuary Ltd. Which in turn was what was left of British Rail after transferring everything actually needed to run the railway to Railtrack (and later Network Rail) and selling off anything else that was saleable. So they're left with a liability that needs maintenance but can't generate income. Presumably the Scottish and Welsh governments refused to have this dumped on them, so HE got stuck with it.
The historical railway estate is the responsibility of the DfT and that part of Highways carries out that function on behalf of the DfT.
The only reason it was moved under the banner of HA (as it was at the time) was so the government could wind up BRBR, as part of their "removing red tape" and closing quangos plan.

If they were insistent on moving it into another government agency or company, then surely the one which maintains the operational railway network and covers England, Scotland and Wales, would have been a more logical choice than one which maintains trunk roads in England only? And there would be more relevant engineering experience in Network Rail than in Highways England.
SteelCamel
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Re: Why have Highways England decided to change their name to National Highways?

Post by SteelCamel »

Glen wrote: Fri Oct 22, 2021 22:41 If they were insistent on moving it into another government agency or company, then surely the one which maintains the operational railway network and covers England, Scotland and Wales, would have been a more logical choice than one which maintains trunk roads in England only? And there would be more relevant engineering experience in Network Rail than in Highways England.
It probably would. But the Government tries to claim that Network Rail is an independent company and not a government agency - which would be rather contradicted by forcing them to accept the liability of the historic railway structures.
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