McCann participates in M1 smart motorway scheme

Civil and electrical engineering firm McCann will help upgrade a 7.5 mile stretch of a major Midlands route as part of the M1 junction 23a – 25 smart motorway scheme. The project stems from an agreement with Highways England and is intended to reduce congestion and smooth the flow of traffic to improve travel times. Carl Lancaster, operations director for McCann, says: “The finished project will also help to minimise environmental impacts and maximise the capacity of the motorway while ensuring continued
July 16, 2018 Read time: 2 mins
Civil and electrical engineering firm McCann will help upgrade a 7.5 mile stretch of a major Midlands route as part of the M1 junction 23a – 25 smart motorway scheme. The project stems from an agreement with 8101 Highways England and is intended to reduce congestion and smooth the flow of traffic to improve travel times.


Carl Lancaster, operations director for McCann, says: “The finished project will also help to minimise environmental impacts and maximise the capacity of the motorway while ensuring continued driver safety.”

McCann will install 500 lighting columns, 100,000m of lighting cable, 12,000m of lighting duct infrastructure, 40,000m of communication cable and 230 communication cabinets. The company will also install relevant technology to 27 new gantries as well as 13 existing gantries.

The project includes the conversion of the hard shoulder to create a fourth lane between junctions 24 and 25 as well as alterations to accommodate the new lane. Variable speed limits and associated smart motorway systems, CCTV systems and electronic signage, a hardened central reservation and a queue detection system to control congestion will also be implemented.  

McCann will work alongside technology construction companies 2002 Costain and Galliford Try. The project is scheduled to be completed in late 2018.

Urban Traffic Control

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • 38 deaths on smart motorways in last five years, BBC reveals 
    January 27, 2020
    The UK government has told the BBC’s Panorama investigation programme that 38 people have been killed on smart motorways in the last five years. 
    Read More
  • Russia ramps-up technologies for transport communications
    March 28, 2018
    Covering an area almost as big as the US and Canada combined, Russia is planning to increase transport-related communications to improve road safety and traffic efficiency. Eugene Gerden reports. Russia’s government plans to increase road safety through the use of modern transport communication and the development of the relevant legislative base. Initially, particular attention will be on the introduction of connected cars and Vehicle to Anything (V2X) technologies. Russia has fewer than 60,000
    Read More
  • Russia ramps-up technologies for transport communications
    March 28, 2018
    Covering an area almost as big as the US and Canada combined, Russia is planning to increase transport-related communications to improve road safety and traffic efficiency. Eugene Gerden reports. Russia’s government plans to increase road safety through the use of modern transport communication and the development of the relevant legislative base. Initially, particular attention will be on the introduction of connected cars and Vehicle to Anything (V2X) technologies. Russia has fewer than 60,000 connect
    Read More
  • ANPR cameras considered for Severn Bridge restrictions
    April 15, 2025
    Wales-England crossing was built in 1966 and carries M48 motorway
    Read More

Highlighted Content