M5 northbound J16-14 FOI request

The request was successful.

Dear Highways England Company Limited,

I write to you with a Freedom of Information request for the following information timed from 8pm on the 16th September 2017 to 2am on 17th September regarding all variable speed cameras between M5 J17 and J16 Northbound

- A copy of the data logs containing all signal settings on gantries.
- A copy of the data logs containing all gantry faults relayed to the service manager.
- Respective gantry identifiers and if this differs from what the gantry in question displayed, please also include what was displayed.
- reasons and justifications for the set limits
- where the limits set correctly following your code of practice

Yours faithfully,

Mr S

Highways England,

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Bartlett, Andrea,

Dear Sir

 

Thank you for your email requesting information relating to M5 northbound
J16-14.

 

I will be unable to proceed with your request as you have provided a
pseudonym which is not valid under section 8(1)(b) of the FOI Act. To help
us do so, please provide a valid name.

 

Please note that if I do not receive the details within three months from
the date of this letter, then I will consider your request closed.

 

If you wish to discuss any of the above, please contact me. Please
remember to quote reference number 18528503 in any future communications.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Andrea Bartlett

FOI Administration Officer | IT Directorate

Highways England | Woodlands | Manton Lane | Bedford | MK41 7LW

 

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Highways England Company Limited | General enquiries: 0300 123 5000
|National Traffic Operations Centre, 3 Ridgeway, Quinton Business Park,
Birmingham B32 1AF |
[1]https://www.gov.uk/government/organisati... |
[2][Highways England request email]

 

Registered in England and Wales no 9346363 | Registered Office: Bridge
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Dear Bartlett, Andrea,

Sorry should of been

Mr S Hopkins

Denning, Maggie,

2 Attachments

Dear Mr S

 

I am writing to confirm that we have now completed our search for the
information, which you requested on 26 September 2017. A copy of the
information is attached and below.

 

As requested attached is a copy of our electronic report of all signs and
signal settings between junctions 17 and 16 northbound between 20:00 on
the 16^th September and 02:00 on the 17^th September.

 

I have also enclosed a copy of our fault report which confirms that there
were no reported faults on the gantries during that time.

 

The gantries themselves are identified by a unique number which tells us
exactly where they are on the motorway. There are 4 gantries between
junction 17 and 16. These are as follows –

o 8325B
o 8330B
o 8339B
o 8347B

 

As you may be aware on the 16^th September a serious road traffic
collision on the M5 between junctions 15 and 14 resulted in a full closure
of the M5 in both directions. On the northbound section the motorway was
closed at junction 16 to allow traffic to follow the approved diversion
route, the A38. We used our overhead electronic signs to close the
motorway and these signs were supported by traffic management installed in
line with guidance contained in Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual.

 

As drivers approached the closure the signs on the gantry prior to the
closure displayed a 20 mph restriction across all three open lanes and a
broken red X above the closed hard shoulder. The next gantry back from the
20mph restriction is 900 meters prior and displayed an automatic speed
restriction. This restriction varied between 50 and 40 miles per hour and
was adjusted automatically based on traffic flow and behaviour. These
settings are controlled d by a system called MIDAS which stands for
Motorway Incident Detection and Automatic Signalling.

 

The use of our electronic signs is covered by our policy for the use of
variable signs and signals. Looking at the configuration of the signs set
I believe these have been set correctly. The initial lane closure was set
to support a valid closure of the motorway for incident management. The 20
restriction set prior to the closure was an automatic setting set by the
system to slow traffic on approach to the closed lanes. The gantry prior
to that was set based on conditions at the time and ensured that traffic
would not have to reduce speed by more than 30 mph on the approach to the
20 mph restriction. This reduction complies with guidance provided in the
Design Manual for Roads and Bridges.

 

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If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please
remember to quote reference number 755,697 in any future communications.

 

Maggie Denning

Performance Assurance and Business Services
Highways England | Ash House | Falcon Road, Sowton Ind. Estate | Exeter |
EX2 7LB

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Highways England Company Limited | General enquiries: 0300 123 5000
|National Traffic Operations Centre, 3 Ridgeway, Quinton Business Park,
Birmingham B32 1AF |
[6]https://www.gov.uk/government/organisati... |
[7][Highways England request email]

 

Registered in England and Wales no 9346363 | Registered Office: Bridge
House, 1 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford, Surrey GU1 4LZ 

 

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