Safelane Deters Incursion

Wiggington Heath Cross Roads – Edge Strengthening

Safelane was used by Skanska (the principle contractor) in the village of Wiggington Heath, enabling them to safely perform edge strengthening on the kerbs and apply 100 mm inlay.

Skanska used Safelane to provide them with a full road closure at all four entry points to the worksite.

A Red PSA with Camera and Panic Alarm was deployed on the entry point to the East, whilst the North, South and West entry points were unmanned with Yellow PSAs and Intellicone enabled lamps. The works crew, who were positioned at the cross roads had a Blue workforce PSA beside them to alert them in the instance of any incursions.

Quite a lot of people tried to move the cones, but, as soon as they did, the alarm went off. It was a great deterrent

From the data collected, it was logged that on a number of occasions, members of the public had attempted to breach the site, activating the alarms. Drivers were observed returning to their vehicles, turning around and driving away from the site.

On the one occasion that a driver did enter the site, the crew alarm was activated (the incursion was captured by CCTV) and the crew had time to move to safety.

Traffic Safety and Control Officer, Doug Whitford commented:

Once the crew understood the set up and how easy it was to use, the equipment was placed correctly and there were no problems at all

The Site Supervisor also commented;

The lads appreciated that they had a warning system and if the alarms went off the closure had been breached

Safelane used on the M25

Case Study: M25 Newhall Joint Replacement Scheme

Jacksons used Safelane on the M25 for the Newhall Joint Replacement Scheme. The scheme was to replace a multi-element expansion joint between junctions 10 and 11 on M25 clockwise and anti-clockwise.

They were surprised by how easy it was it install.

As the main contractor, Jacksons asked Highway Resource Solutions to design a Safelane system for a full carriageway closure on the M25 anti clockwise. Jacksons crews were surprised by how easy Safelane was to install, having been weary of it to begin with, they soon had a complete change of heart.

Karen Doherty, Systems Engineer commented:

The TM crew felt that the training course they undertook before using Safelane was really good and it gave them the knowledge they needed to go out and install it

Safelane was a good deterrent

A1 Coalhouse to Metro Centre  (A1CH2MC)

Balfour Beatty were the main contractor to widen the A1 western bypass from junctions 67-71. The task in hand was to increase the size of the roads from two lanes to three, with the addition of two distributor roads between junctions 68 and 69.

Prior to A1CH2MC project commencing, Safelane’s requirements were discussed with Highway Resource Solutions. A layout was then agreed and  utilised on site. The added site safety was instigated due to a vehicle incursion which occurred on 14th February 2015, when a vehicle accessed a works site at speed, and  proceeded to travel down the length of the closed carriageway whilst under the influence of alcohol.

The system was installed when the carriageway had been closed, the system was used at all carriageway closure locations and additional equipment was supplied by HRS which provided arm mounted panic alarms for the gate marshals. The carriageway closure locations changed  regularly, the equipment supplied was easy to   assemble and deploy through the work site and similarly easy to collect when the work site was clear.

The equipment had a positive effect with the work force allowing contact to be made over the length of the closed section of carriageway at short notice.

On a number of occasions, the alarms were triggered by vehicles attempting to enter the site, once the alarm sounded, the flashing light was triggered and this then deterred the vehicle from accessing the site.

The work force found the equipment effective and easy to use.

Efficient Safety on the A46

Between 12 May 2016 and 9 June 2016, High friction surfacing (HFS) was laid on a one kilometre stretch of the A46 near Bath. HW Martin was responsible for the temporary traffic management deployed during this scheme on behalf of Highways England Area 2 (operated by Skanska). As part of HW Martin’s drive to continuously improve safety and operational efficiency they investigated the use of the Intellicone® Safelane system as a means to reduce the impact of incursions into the closure whilst minimising resource requirements.

“When we first looked at the A46 Hartley Bends scheme for Skanska in Area 2 we were looking at using up to 18 gatemen and around 9 vehicles to control the access points that run along the A46, with the assistance of Intellicone Safelane we were able to reduce this to 8 men and 4 vehicles” – Sam Clarke (Contracts Coordinator,

HW Martin used the Safelane system which enables Traffic Management Operatives to instantly warn the workforce of an incursion without any limitation in distance. At the same time, electronically alarmed closure points remove operatives from potential conflict areas.

“All of the equipment was easy to use and could be kept in a small contained space, charging was never a problem and all systems were self-explanatory when charging and installing”.

“I have had excellent feedback from the crews on site as they were made aware of any gate breaches before the vehicle reached their check point, this also made a safe working environment for the contractors as the alarm would give them warning to remove personnel from the carriageway in the case of an emergency. The alarm for the contractors would only sound if the panic button was pressed at the last check point, thus allowing the TM Foreman not to disturb the workforce unless it was absolutely necessary”.

“Skanska carried out a drive through on the scheme and recorded all the check points whilst they were in operation. All parties were very happy with the outcome of the scheme and were very impressed with the equipment which was used and how it had been developed to suit the individual scheme” – Sam Clarke (Contracts Coordinator, HW Martin).

“HW Martin have been very pro-active and helpful in deploying the Safelane equipment on the A46 scheme in Area 2. They made key staff available for training to ensure that the deployment would be as smooth as possible” – Dale Courtman (Highway Resource Solutions)

HRS launched as IoT Showcase by Digital Catapult

HRS Intellicone will be on display at the Digital Catapult Internet of Things (IoT) Showcase near St Pancras Station in London for the next 3 months. Having been selected out of a large number of entrants nationally, HRS will be showcasing the life saving potential of its IoT platform.

Part of showcasing at IoT means we are helping take action to help solve first world problems that are either too complex, financially risky, or too time intensive for market forces alone to deliver.

So, if you’re in London over the next three months come down and visit our showcase.

For more information visit http://iotuk.org.uk/highway-resource-solutions-ltd-hrs/

The operatives had time to prepare

“Thanks to the Safelane system,  the operatives had time to prepare for the errant vehicle and could handle the situation effectively”

Aone+ deployed Safelane on the A5 at Mancetter Island which was closed for resurfacing work.

All manned access points were equipped with Safelane Panic Alarms, as well as full road closures complete with Intellicone Cone lamps.  For safety, manned checkpoints were installed ahead of the workforce.

Whilst a site audit was taking place, a TM operative mentioned to a manager about the use of the

Gate System at the Checkpoints, and how well it worked in conjunction with the Safelane System. As the TM operative was speaking, an alarm was triggered on the orange unit. A confused driver had become mixed into site traffic.

When the crews arrived at the Checkpoint, each site vehicle was allowed in until the errant one was located. The driver was then asked to pull over while the site traffic passed.

After waiting for a few minutes the TSCO arrived and the motorist was escorted from site. The operatives were pleased that the system had done its job.

Safelane has once again helped to prevent injuries and fatalities which can occur from the ignorance of drivers.

Safelane assists daytime roadworks

“The work crews feel safer on site thanks to the Safelane system, as they know that there are some drivers who just don’t care!”

Ringway Infrastructure Services have deployed the Intellicone® Safelane equipment to help improve their safety protocols during the resurfacing works on the B 1261, Crossgates to Musham Bank. The works were carried out during the daytime on a busy B-road that cuts through a residential area.

As such, Intellicone® enabled full road closures were required to prevent access from the A64 and from the housing estate. Access to site was through a manned chicane, where an R-Series PSA was placed, which included a CCTV camera, both to be activated by the operatives Panic Alarm.

If the full closures or the access points were breached by an errant vehicle, the strategically placed Crew Alarms would be instantly activated allowing the works crews to seek safety.

’When the Alarm goes off, it really makes you look around. I can even hear through my ear defenders.”- Coneworx TM

‘’It ‘s easy to use, easy to set up’’.- Coneworx TM

“I’m keen on it, it has done just what we wanted it to do”. – Area Agent, Ringway Infrastructure Services

‘’It’s been no bother, even in the high winds’’.- Coneworx TM

‘’I like the way the Panic Button works at the access point’’.- Coneworx TM

‘’We had to changes plans slightly and the kit adapted to suit’’.- Coneworx TM

Everyone went home safely

“This highlights the importance of the Intellicone system having been deployed correctly, and may just be on this occasion the system that sent all the contractors home safely to their families.”

Aone+ used the Safelane system to close around 5 kilometres of the A14 between junction 7 and junction 3 westbound. The closure was installed for resurfacing, white lining and stud replacement.  The equipment to be installed consisted of 1 Checkpoint (Orange Unit) to be moved down the site, dictated by the site manager as the site location moved every night. The access points (2 Red Units) were located at junction 7 entry slip and also a farm access as well as 3 yellow units,  which were used for side road-blocks. We also had on site 3 blue contractor units, all units were deployed overnight.

“We received a phone call from the TMF advising that two stray vehicles had entered the site. The first vehicle had pulled up at the main gate and said he needed to get to the hospital at junction 6, when they got close to junction 6 he sped off before coming to a halt at the check point and  was then removed from site. The second vehicle ran the access point triggering the Intellicone system and sped down the closure. When he got to the check point he mounted the grass and carried on towards the workers, as this happened the Operative on the checkpoint triggered his panic alarm, thus setting of the contractors Intellicone Alarm alerting the workforce to the oncoming danger”

“The stray vehicle came up against the checkpoint that was added to the design yesterday and installed last night. Happy days, accident averted!”. – IDT Manager Area 7

“We had some training on the system and it was easy to work. We only had to switch the unit on and press deploy’’. – TM Operative Area 7

“Using Safelane reduced the number of TM lads on site. Also as there was a lot of work going on, it reduced the plant movements creating a safer site”. – IDT Manager Area 7

‘The system was simple to understand easy to set up’’.- TM Operative Area 7

Without Safelane, who knows what would have happened

“Thanks to the Safelane system, the Crews had just enough time to turn around and see the truck speeding towards them. As they safely moved out of the way, the truck smashed through the second ‘holding barrier’ sending the plastic barriers, cones and signs towards the Crews”

An Airlock entry system had been placed on the M25, junction 30 slip road onto the A13 by Skanska Balfour Beatty . To enhance the Crews safety, the Intellicone Safelane Panic Alarm/ Gatemen system had been deployed. The work crews who were resurfacing the highway were only 1/2 km further down the road. A few hours into the shift, the closure was breached by a white Bedford truck driver.

The Gateman immediately triggered his Panic Alarm, simultaneously setting off the Blue Crew Alarm, alerting them to move to safety. As the rogue driver saw the mass of flashing beacons in front of him, he sped up and forced his way through the holding point barrier, through the remainder of the roadworks and off site. All with the blatant disregard for the workforce.
‘’Without Safelane, who knows what would have happened with regards to injuries or even fatalities’’.-Skanska TM
‘’It ‘s really good, especially how it protects the work crews’’ -TM Operative
‘’It’s a good system, I really like the way the Panic Button works’’. – TM Operative
“Safelane has already proved its worth on two separate occasions now’’.- Skanska TM

Preventing an incursion on the A5

A5 Resurfacing Works Towcester to Old Stratford

“A full closure point was set up on the Pury Lane junction with the A5. At approximately 23:30 a motorist stopped at the closure, got out of his vehicle and started to move cones. As soon as the first cone was moved the alarm sounded, the driver then quickly go back into hist vehicle and dissapeared back down the road he had come from”

The Safelane system was used to close 10 miles of the A5 between Towcester Racecourse and Old Stratford roundabout.  The closure required 2 checkpoints with airlocks (Orange Alarms), 2 works access points (Red Alarms) and 15 full closure points (Yelllow Alarms and Intellicone lamps). In additon there were 5 Blue Alarms for the workforce operating inside the closure.

When the member of the public attempted to gain access via a full closure point and was dettered by the Yellow Alarm, this also alerted the Traffic Management Operatives situated at the Checkpoint (Orange Alarm) with CCTV and Panic Alarm). If the member of the public would have proceeded towards the checkpoint and posed a threat to the workforce the Traffic Management Operatives manning the checkpoint could have sounded the Blue Alarms of the workforce. In this case the incursion was contained and there was no need to alert them and halt work unecessarily.

“The works involved would normally require using around 40 Traffic Management Operatives but using Safelane reduce this by a 1/3 giving a significant saving to the scheme”.-  IDT Manager Area 7

“Installing a Yellow Alarm removed us from the block and any confrontation with members of the public”.-      TM Operative Area 7

“The Site Manager had briefed us to move to a designated position of safety if the Blue Alarm was activated”.-  DBI White Lining Crew

“Once we were told how to use the system it was easy to install and understand how it worked”.-  TM Operative Area 7