Highways England has thrown its weight behind a groundbreaking event this autumn bringing together strategic roads chiefs, council directors, contractors and the industry’s leading trade bodies to transform the way the local and national elements work in unison.
Building on a generation of experience in highways conferences including sector-leading events such as Traffex and Cold Comfort, Surveyor and Brintex have combined to host Highways Management: Smarter Roads for the Future - Delivering a modern network locally and nationally at The Point in Manchester on 23 and 24 September.
For the first time the two halves of UK highways, together with the private sector, will have a joint platform for debate.
Council directors’ body ADEPT and trade bodies including the Road Safety Markings Association will also partner the conference, which will include case studies, technical presentations, seminars, debates and keynote addresses from senior figures in national and local highways.
Chief executive of Highways England, Graham Dalton, explained the importance of the event: ‘It is incumbent on us to collaborate together to get the best answers in challenging circumstances both in terms of finance and capacity.’
David Brewer, executive director of network delivery and development at Highways England, has already confirmed he will be speaking at the event alongside senior ADEPT representatives.
Mr Brewer said: 'Highways England has £11bn of investment to deliver over the next five years and in order to build a more accessible and integrated network we need to collaborate with local authorities and other partners. This event provides an ideal opportunity to strengthen existing relationships and build new ones.'
The news comes after Transport Network revealed Highways England plans to build new more formalised relationships with councils.
