Automatic cone-laying machines coming to motorways

Highways England has released details of new vehicles designed to place cones at roadworks. The machines will reduce risk for road workers.

Highways England cone-laying machine

Highways England has released details of new vehicles designed to place cones at roadworks. The machines will reduce risk for road workers.

The automated cone-laying machines will take the place of two workers hanging from a truck, placing cones as it drives along. 

Around 260-300 cones are required for a 2.5-mile road closure. That means workers shift between five and six tonnes of cones, each weighing 10kg, over the course of a shift.

Include other objects such as frames, signs, lamps and sand bags, and that’s an eight- to 10-tonne payload. A single kilometre of cone-laying takes 15 minutes. That means that live traffic exposure for these workers at present totals around two hours. 

 

The process of establishing roadworks should also speed up. Pending further successful testing and refinement of the design, the cone-laying machines could be in service by the end of the year. 

Two vehicles have been developed. One by Highway Care and one by King Highway Products. The former has been testing at Bruntingthorpe airfield, while the latter is due to be trialled next month. Highways England has invested £1.27 million into the scheme, via the Innovation Designated Funds programme.

Highways England set criteria for the machines, which must be safe in terms of all road users and pose no risk to traffic. In terms of performance, they need to lay or collect cones at a rate of one every 10 seconds. Both machines are expected to be used if they both pass the tests. 

Highways England cone-laying machine

“We are constantly looking for ways to improve safety for everyone who works and travels on our road network and have been delighted with the initial tests of this innovative vehicle,” said Highways England’s Martin Bolt.

“The first tests have been very positive. We have already received a lot of interest and support from the industry, applauding an initiative that will take the human element out of putting cones and therefore take away an element of potential risk.

“As well as taking away this physical and laborious task, these automated machines will also help us to redeploy the workforce to some of the many other traffic management duties.”

Related Articles

Ethan Jupp
Ethan Jupp
I'm Content Editor at MR. Road trips music and movies are my vices. Perennially stuck between French hot hatches and Australian muscle cars.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Hi i am interested in some info regarding this vehicle, we are a the largest company in Victoria Melbourne Australia. i am wondering if this vehicle allows you to place cones out for the tapers at the start of the closure?

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Find a Car Review

Latest

One-off amphibious TVR Scamander to headline London Concours 2024

This year’s London Concours event will celebrate automotive oddities, including a unique three-seat TVR concept car.

Supercat! TWR reveals supercharged V12 Jaguar XJS restomod

Based on the classic Jaguar XJS, the £270,000 TWR Supercat comes with 600hp and a six-speed manual gearbox.

Nissan to sell tiny Silence Nanocar – and it could come to the UK

Nissan is to sell electric quadricycles from Spanish start-up company Silence, starting in Italy and France.

May bank holiday weekend: when to travel to avoid traffic chaos

Motorists are being warned to allow extra time if they plan to drive during the May 2024 bank holiday weekend.