By Iain McDonald, business development director, SRL Traffic Systems

Construction remains the most dangerous sector in which to work, with 2022-3 Health and Safety Executive figures attesting to 45 workers killed in accidents – more than double the number in agriculture, forestry and fishing, the second most hazardous industry (https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/assets/docs/fatalinjuries.pdf).  Fatalities involving vehicles ranked as one of the top three categories.

One of the main goals of contractors responsible for major construction projects such as road building programmes is to facilitate the safe and efficient flow of highways and plant vehicles around works, for the benefit of construction workers and road users alike.  Another is ensuring that projects are undertaken sustainably.

As one of Europe’s largest manufacturers and suppliers of mobile intelligent transport solutions (ITS) to the construction sector, SRL Traffic Systems is at the forefront of the development of pioneering systems designed to enable customers to achieve these priorities.

Created in partnership with Chevron, for use on Costain’s £330m A30 Chiverton to Carland Cross upgrade project in Cornwall, our patented, 2023 Highways Awards Product of the Year, the Haul Route PLUS system, facilitates the safe and efficient crossing of public highways by construction traffic.

Incorporating traffic signals, variable message signs (VMS) to warn drivers of upcoming crossings, work-zone protection barriers, CCTV and ANPR, it is the only temporary solution to feature integrated adaptive detection technology. SRL’s Multiphase unique detection system deploys a high accuracy radar detector to collect data about real time highway and construction traffic volumes and speeds.  This enables lights to operate to timings that reflect the actual flow of traffic rather than to pre-set timings to accommodate the slowest plant and reduces carbon emissions caused by sitting vehicles.  The “all red” facility ensures that barriers stay open until plant has safely traversed the crossing.

Said Chevron’s operations manager, Martin Hebditch, of the solution comprising eight sets of signals, two VMS and four barriers: “The system was used intensively and performed exceptionally well, minimising potential disruption to traffic on the extremely busy A3075 diversion route.  Both Chevron and Costain were extremely impressed.”

Haul Route PLUS was created with the safety of construction workers in mind and helps to eliminate dangerous incursions.  It is the only wireless mobile crossing solution, facilitating swift and easy installation and minimising the cost and restrictions incurred by cabling which may be easily damaged.  It automatically switches between main road and haul route barrier system through the detection of construction vehicles and may be operated and monitored remotely from a position of safety.  All system components are solar-hybrid, which reduces the number of battery exchanges required and so too the risk to personnel working in live lanes.

Earlier this year, SRL established an exclusive hire partnership with the UK’s largest manufacturer and supplier of security gates, CLD Physical Security Systems.  The deal allows customers to choose from two barriers, depending on the anticipated project length.  While the solar/hybrid INSTABOOM incursion control barrier from leading barrier and gate manufacturer Solar Gates caters for short-term contracts, CLD’s RiseMaster HE fully autonomous solar powered automatic boom arm barrier (patent pending) is ideal for longer-term works.

Haul Route PLUS was developed at SRL’s Research and Development Centre, which provides dedicated facilities to support the design of new industry-leading solutions and the construction and testing of prototypes.

The company is one of the leading proponents of the safety of roadworks staff.  The ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety) accredited business is a 2022, 2023 and 2024 RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) award winner. SRL supports and has adopted a reporting system aligned to the Stamp it Out campaign to tackle roadworker abuse.

SRL is committed to environmental sustainability.  Its Achilles Carbon Reduction certificate affirms its commitment to the reduction of carbon emissions in operational activities and the company has achieved ISO 14064 (greenhouse gas emission management and reduction).  SRL’s hire model promotes circularity and the business operates the industry’s largest distribution network of over 30 depots, facilitating sustainable delivery.

For further details about SRL’s Haul Route PLUS, please visit: https://www.srl.co.uk/pages/haul-route-crossing-systems