IPL, supported by specialist subcontractor Peek Traffic Limited, will be responsible for the provision of the Motorway Access Management System comprising hardware, software and associated interface equipment.
Motorway Access Management (also known as Ramp Metering) is a traffic management technique which regulates the number of vehicles allowed to join a motorway at peak periods. The purpose of the system is to prevent or delay the onset of traffic flow breakdown on the main carriageway by a combination of:
- Restricting the flow onto the motorway of additional traffic that, if unrestricted, would trigger flow breakdown, and
- Managing the flow down the slip road to avoid platoons of vehicles entering at once and hence causing flow breakdown.
By preventing or delaying flow breakdown the system will provide the following benefits:
- Less congestion and improved traffic flows
- Smoother and more reliable journey times
- Reduced risk of accident on the main carriageway and for those joining from the slip road
- Environmental benefits as a result of noise reduction and improved fuel consumption
The system will use part-time traffic signals on the slip road which come into operation when traffic sensors on the main carriageway indicate heavy traffic.
IPL and Peek will also be responsible for all design and development, installation, commissioning, testing, training and maintenance and support.
