Do you know I was a setting out engineer on a by-pass construction in the 1990s? I also worked in a consultancy designing by-pass schemes in Wales then. Both as a student civil engineer.

I haven’t strongly associated myself with highways in the many years in between. However, more recently I’ve had the honour of being a member of the Wales Roads Review Panel and Chairing the Road Investment Scrutiny Panel. I’ve got stuck in this year with responding to consultations and giving evidence on road investment in England and the new draft of the rather dryly titled ‘National Networks National Policy Statement’.

I suppose you could see me as a critical friend to the highways sector – or a pain in the *rse – but hopefully the former.

It’s also been a privilege to get involved with highways experts within Mott MacDonald to explore what the future may have in store for the sector. The article below in Highways Magazine draws upon views from myself and my Motts colleagues Liz Baldwin and Steve Ellis. Reflective of the broad ranging exploration of uncertainty in a changing and challenged world, we also find ourselves joined by reference to Pete Dyson and Rory Sutherland and their excellent book ‘Transport for Humans: Are we nearly there yet?’.

Highways are integral to our society and are very much part of our future – but in a fundamentally changing landscape. I’ll be at Highways UK at Birmingham NEC Wednesday next week on the Motts stand. If you’re heading there too and fancy a conversation about the future of highways please pop by – and drop me a line on Swapcard if it helps.

#highways#uncertainty#futuremobility#decarbonisation

Andrew TheobaldNatacha JohnsonAlison YimJohn D’ArcyChris HardwickAnnette SmithJanice J.Thomas Knight