HW Martin (Traffic Management) Ltd and Virtus Celebrate Multiple Wins at the National Highways Industry Awards

Hosted at the iconic Manchester United Football Stadium, the 2024 National Highways Industry Awards brought together leading organisations and professionals to celebrate excellence across the highways sector. Recognising outstanding achievements in safety, customer service and project delivery, the event showcased innovation and collaboration at its finest.

With nine prestigious awards presented on the night, HW Martin (Traffic Management) Ltd and Virtus were honoured to receive two accolades – the Exceptional Contribution to Safety, Research and Innovation Award and the highly coveted Chairman’s Award – for their work on the pioneering Sign Asset Monitoring System (SAMS).

Developed in collaboration with Virtus, Fewzed and Morgan Sindall, SAMS represents a transformative approach to highway safety. Trialed on the A12 concrete roads replacement scheme in Essex, this innovative system uses sensor technology to monitor traffic management signs in real-time, alerting teams immediately in the event of displacement or damage. By reducing the need for routine inspections, SAMS enhances workforce safety while significantly cutting emissions and operational costs.

The results of the A12 trial were remarkable. The implementation of SAMS eliminated 1,092 site visits, reducing carbon emissions by 5.61tCO₂e and delivering cost savings of £64,000 by cutting 24,810km of driving, 728 driving hours, and 2,233 litres of fuel. The initiative has since been shared nationally, demonstrating its potential for industry-wide adoption.

The impact of SAMS was recognised at the highest level, with the system also receiving the prestigious Chairman’s Award. Selected from all category winners, this accolade highlights the submission that best embodies National Highways’ imperatives: Safety, Customer and Delivery.

In addition to these accolades, HW Martin (Traffic Management) Ltd and Virtus, as part of the collaborative team with Morgan Sindall, also contributed to securing the Customer Focused Team of the Year Award. This recognition followed the successful development of an internal customer culture communications strategy, which established an ‘A12 corridor’ communications channel inspired by National Highways’ customer-first approach.

The team’s commitment to safety was further reinforced with the Contribution to Road User Safety Award, achieved through innovative measures to mitigate incursions on the A12. By integrating cutting-edge technology and advanced mitigation measures into traffic management, the collaborative effort helped the A12 become the best-performing region in the UK, according to the Strategic Road User Survey.

HW Martin (Traffic Management) Ltd, Eurovia UK, Chevron Traffic Management , Colas Ltd, Amey, and Highway Traffic Management and the Royal British Legion Industries were also shortlisted for the National Highways Social Value Delivery Award. This project as a testament to the power of collaboration, shared purpose and leaving a positive legacy. Over several years, we’ve worked together to create sustainable employment, deliver upskilling opportunities and provide new housing facilities for veterans and individuals with disabilities in the RBLI community.

HW Martin (Traffic Management) Ltd and Virtus are proud to be at the forefront of industry innovation and collaboration, driving forward solutions that enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability across the UK’s road network.

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners at this year’s National Highways Industry Awards.