Non-trunk motorways: Who operates the signals and answers the phone?

[traffic-light-man]

Just a question I thought someone here might know the answer to...

I was crawling along the M62 between junctions 6 and 5 at the weekend, the congestion appearing as though it was the result of an incident on one of the bridges at J5 and the police having put on a rolling block. All the signals were flashing away, and as the queue was released, they all changed to show 'End', so presumably being operated live (as you'd expect).

Similarly, on my return journey, an incident at J6 had caused the mainline to be diverted 'up-and-over', with heavy congestion as a result. Again, all the signals were set in the usual manner, including a trio of 'leave at next exit' symbols which isn't something I've seen in person very often.

It was after this that I wondered who actually operates and maintains the signals on non-trunk motorways? Do NH continue to operate them on behalf of the local authorities, do the police retain control of the signals on those sections, or do the local authorities somehow have control over them?

This then led me onto a similar train of thought - who answers and looks after the emergency telephones? Is that handled in the same way as the signals?

The same situation presumably goes for the non-trunk stretch of the M65, which is also kitted out with signals and telephones.

[RichardA35]

Just as a quickie for the phones that were installed on the A35 across the Bere Regis to Honiton stretch.
There was no traffic control room for Dorset CC (at the time, there may be now) so the phones were configured as a 3 button unit with buttons for IIRC AA, RAC and Police.
They were GSM units as BT were often remote from the site.
I think the same was true of phones in laybys on the A50.

[jervi]

I've wondered this before, but don't have an answer for you.

One thing I have noticed is that on this de-trunked (2002) section of the A17, the parking layby signs still have the SOS phone bit, despite the phones being removed, I presume the phones where decommissioned and removed as part of the detrunking process.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.08895 ... 384!8i8192

[BeenEverywhere]

I broke down on the A50 through Stoke once. In answer to your question of who answers the emergency phone (it had one button) .... No one

[tom66]

Related question I suppose, who runs the phones for the Leeds Inner Ring Road (A58M/A64M)
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.80511 ... 384!8i8192

At one point many of these are in very poor condition indeed (collision damage, mostly), but they do appear to have been replaced/repaired at some point.

Ref A17:
The idea of having SOS signs with no phones to me sounds bonkers, those parking signs should be replaced.

[Chris5156]

I have no idea but I'd be genuinely interested to find out!

My guess would be the local police control room but perhaps that's an outdated solution now.

[vlad]

I broke down on the A50 through Stoke once. In answer to your question of who answers the emergency phone (it had one button) .... No one

That's disturbing given that the A50 is trunk.

(I appreciate that it's only the dual-carriageway bit east of the A500 that's trunk - but there aren't any emergence phones on the other bit.)

[BeenEverywhere]

Yes, that was east of the a500, before the tunnel but in one of the cuttings. I think it was more that the phone had been damaged and not repaired, but, it was rather a surreal night for a few reasons, least of which breaking down. Most of which probably goes under the heading "normal for Stoke"

[traffic-light-man]

Interestingly, I noticed that the M62 J4-J6 appears on the NH traffic information strip maps. It was showing the signals set for an ongoing incident when I thought to check it last night following this thread (I was actually curious to see if the strip maps were still available), and it appears to show live flow speeds and incidents as well.

[Matthew]

National Highways set all signals on behalf of the police/local council and would also answer any calls from the emergency telephones, along non-strategic sections of motorway. But it is the respective police force's responsibility to attend. The same applies for the A38(M) too, although I have seen traffic officers provide support along there.

[Bryn666]

The A57(M) opened with blue Anderson style SOS phones but these were removed in the 1980s by the looks of it.

[AndyB]

In NI, there is a single Motorway control room, less than a mile from my house, which looks after phones and signals on the M1, main M2, M3, M5, M12, M22 and A8(M), and tasks out to the respective Roads Policing unit: Antrim for the M2, M5, M22, A8(M) and I think the M3, Belfast for the Westlink and M1 to Moira, and Portadown for the rest of the M1 and M12.

There is also a civilian traffic control centre somewhere in Belfast Harbour Estate, which actually controls the electronic signals when not being done automatically.

Phones on the M2 Ballymena bypass are linked to Ballymena, whose local police respond as required. The Bypass still uses the bases of the big blue phones repainted with modern orange units placed on top, and there are no electronic signals other than our “wrong way turn back” red wigwags.

[traffic-light-man]

National Highways set all signals on behalf of the police/local council and would also answer any calls from the emergency telephones, along non-strategic sections of motorway. But it is the respective police force's responsibility to attend. The same applies for the A38(M) too, although I have seen traffic officers provide support along there.

Brilliant, thanks for the answer, Matthew!

Interesting point about NHTOs, too. I've seen them attend incidents on the non-trunk M62, but it has generally been if the trunk section has been/could be affected as well, or it's very close to J6, otherwise it's usually NWMPG who attend as you'd expect.

[Duple]

Interestingly, I noticed that the M62 J4-J6 appears on the NH traffic information strip maps. It was showing the signals set for an ongoing incident when I thought to check it last night following this thread (I was actually curious to see if the strip maps were still available), and it appears to show live flow speeds and incidents as well.

Interesting that this also shows the speed limits set on Smart Motorways.

[Matthew]

Brilliant, thanks for the answer, Matthew!

Interesting point about NHTOs, too. I've seen them attend incidents on the non-trunk M62, but it has generally been if the trunk section has been/could be affected as well, or it's very close to J6, otherwise it's usually NWMPG who attend as you'd expect.

You're warmly welcome. I didn't know the answer myself, so I contacted a colleague who did.

[Matthew]

Interestingly, I noticed that the M62 J4-J6 appears on the NH traffic information strip maps. It was showing the signals set for an ongoing incident when I thought to check it last night following this thread (I was actually curious to see if the strip maps were still available), and it appears to show live flow speeds and incidents as well.

Interesting that this also shows the speed limits set on Smart Motorways.

I believe there are some sections of LHA roads which has flow data to hand. If you look around the West Midlands you'll see quite a lot of information.

[DB617]

Interestingly, I noticed that the M62 J4-J6 appears on the NH traffic information strip maps. It was showing the signals set for an ongoing incident when I thought to check it last night following this thread (I was actually curious to see if the strip maps were still available), and it appears to show live flow speeds and incidents as well.

How long has this existed? That's actually awesome.