Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) is establishing a Design Excellence Panel to ensure all future transport infrastructure projects meet the highest standards of design, accessibility and sustainability. The panel will act as an independent advisory body, providing expert guidance to project teams throughout the development lifecycle of schemes across the region’s rail, bus, tram and active travel networks. The initiative reflects TfWM’s commitment to embedding design thinkin

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking (APPGCW) led a group of Parliamentarians, Walking and Cycling Commissioners, and those working in the active travel sector on a study tour to Paris. The one-day trip last week saw the group meeting MPs, local councillors, senior policymakers and campaigners to understand how the city has transformed its streets for cycling in recent years – with a particular focus on the preparation that took place ahead of the Olympic

Dublin is taking a major step toward its vision of safer, greener, and more accessible streets with the creation of a city-scale AI digital twin designed to transform how transport and environmental data are used for decision-making. The initiative brings together Smart Dublin, VivaCity, and Bentley Systems to develop a proof-of-concept platform that combines real-time sensor data, geospatial mapping, and simulation technology to support active travel and road safety across t

More railway staff will wear body-worn cameras in a bid to tackle rising violence and abuse, it has been announced. South Western Railway said it was expanding the use of body-worn cameras for frontline workers, including train guards and gateline assistants. It comes after the number of reported violent incidents and public order offences doubled between 2020-21 and 2024-25, according to British Transport Police. Jane Lupson, safety and security director for South Western Ra

Those interested in contracting for the Scheme Delivery Framework 2 should be aware that the deadline is just days away – and updates on Maintenance & Response 2 have revealed key changes to application requirements. At this year’s Highways UK conference, Jo Jarvis, procurement director at National Highways, shone some light on upcoming tender opportunities and highlighted one or two new bits of information. Crucially, the deadline for the Scheme Delivery Framework 2   (SDF2

A new regional director and two new business development managers have been appointed by SRL Traffic Systems to support traffic management customers throughout the UK. Paul Hamblin joins Europe’s largest manufacturer and supplier of temporary and portable intelligent transport system (ITS) solutions as regional director for the central region, overseeing depots in Solihull, Nottingham, Wigan, Leeds, Telford and Newcastle.  He will work alongside the regional manager to ensure

A new 1.3-kilometre section of the Somerset Circle walking and cycling route has officially opened, providing a scenic, traffic-free path in the Mendip area. This stretch links Hamwood Viaduct to Thrupe Lane , offering a safe route for walkers and cyclists. In addition, a signposted cycling route guides riders along minor roads from Thrupe Lane, across the Mendip Hills to Gurney Slade and Chilcompton . The new section represents a key link in the Somerset Circle project, o

Hammersmith and Fulham Council has approved a new draft Local Plan which would see both the Hammersmith gyratory and flyover removed. They would be replaced with underground road links by their owners, Transport for London. The flyover and sections of the A4 would be replaced with a tunnel, which the council says will free up land for development and reconnect Hammersmith town centre to the riverside. “Just as the Victorians had the vision to put trains underground, we’re now

A road in Motherwell has become the first in the UK to trial an innovative technology that partially replaces bitumen in asphalt with recycled plastic, marking a significant step toward more sustainable road construction. The pilot is part of Live Labs 2 , a three-year, £30 million national programme funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) and led by ADEPT . The initiative aims to decarbonise local highway networks by reducing emissions from resurfacing projects while

The government has announced a £10 million fund to develop innovative solutions to overcome grid constraints when it comes to installing electric vehicle chargers on the strategic road network, including more rural areas. Private operators are invited to apply for a share of the funding to develop solutions using renewable energy sources such as solar, alongside energy storage systems like batteries, to avoid the need for expensive grid upgrades at ‘harder-to-power’ locations

Wiltshire Council has sharply criticised the government’s decision to revoke planning permission for the Stonehenge tunnel project, calling the move a major setback for the region. The Stonehenge tunnel , part of the wider A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down upgrade , was intended to ease chronic congestion and improve traffic flow around the World Heritage site. However, the scheme has now been formally cancelled after the government revoked its Development Consent Order (DCO)

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council has opened a tender for a new highways surface dressing contract, covering selected roads within its network. The project carries an estimated value of up to £5 million . The contract is set to begin on 2 April 2026 and run until 1 April 2031 , with the option for an extension to 1 April 2034 — potentially extending its duration to eight years in total. Under the agreement, the appointed contractor will undertake annual surface dressing

The City of Wolverhampton Council has unveiled a new £150 million highways works framework covering the Black Country region. Running from April 2026 to March 2030 , with the potential for a one-year extension, the framework will succeed the Black Country Minor Works Framework , which currently includes Colas among its contractors. This four-year agreement will enable local authorities across the West Midlands to commission a wide range of highways-related projects. The sco

A PENSIONER has stopped paying his council tax in protest, claiming a “dangerous” section of road near his home is being ignored by the council – who insist it’s not bad enough to fix. David Johnson, 77, from Cliffe Woods, a small village near Rochester in Kent, says he’s had enough of being fobbed off after months of complaining about road damage outside his home. The retired builder told KentOnline: “Every time I drive over it, I hear scraping underneath the car. “To avoid

Over the weekend, a train journey turned into a scene of unimaginable horror. On board a London North Eastern Railway service, a knife attacker moved through the carriages, injuring multiple passengers. In the midst of this chaos, a member of staff acted without hesitation, placing themselves directly in the path of the attacker to protect others. That staff member now fights for their life. It’s a stark reminder of the risks faced every day by people whose work puts them in

National Highways has published a comprehensive report identifying 182 high-priority locations across the strategic road network where outfalls or soakaways present a significant risk of pollution to surrounding waterways. The announcement highlights the organisation’s commitment to tackling road run-off and protecting water quality as part of its wider environmental and sustainability objectives. Run-off pollution occurs when rainwater or surface water flows over roads and