Why should we be thinking about roads as a service, not just an engineering challenge? What does it mean for a road to be a computer wrapped in asphalt? How can we use data from cars, highway assets, and even the road itself, to plan maintenance with minimal disruption to road users? How can roads become greener, more sustainable, and have less carbon impact? And what legacy do we leave when we build a new road?

All through this week, Engineering Matters will be releasing a new mini-series, looking at the future of the UK’s road network, with guests from National Highways, Balfour Beatty, and AtkinsRéalis, recorded live at Highways UK.

In this first short episode, mini-series producer Will North is joined by Balfour Beatty managing director, highways, Phil Clifton, and AtkinsRéalis managing director, transport, strategic highways, Peter Baynham, to talk about all of the topics we will be discussing throughout the week.

We’ll be returning tomorrow with the first full episode of the mini-series, “Roads Reimagined”. On Wednesday, we’ll meet the asset management experts using data to perform heart surgery on the UK’s highways. On Thursday, we’ll consider how we can build and maintain roads sustainably, and without carbon emissions. And on Friday, we’ll learn about the planned Lower Thames Crossing, and how the project has been designed from the start with a clear legacy in mind.

Guests

Phil Clifton, Managing Director, Highways, Balfour Beatty

Peter Baynham, Managing Director, Transport, Strategic Highways, AtkinsRéalis

Partners

AtkinsRéalis is a world-leading professional services and project management company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. Employing over 37,000 people across Canada, the US and Latin America, the UK and Ireland, and Asia, the Middle East, and Australia, AtkinsRéalis creates sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems.

Balfour Beatty is a leading international infrastructure group. With 26,000 employees across the UK, US and Hong Kong, Balfour Beatty is leading the transformation of the industry to meet the challenges of the future.