The routes help the Highways Agency and local highway authorities manage traffic when major incidents close motorways or trunk roads. This means that, over time, most closures of a main carriageway will have a pre-planned and clearly signed local diversion route, taking traffic around closed sections.
The signs use standard black shapes (circles, squares, diamonds and triangles) on a yellow background. Highways Agency Traffic Officers or Incident Support staff will set the initial signs on the motorway or at other key points, showing which symbol should be followed for the diversion route. Additional signs at regular intervals will ensure diverted traffic follows the correct route. Off network diversions are the safest and most suitable routes, planned and agreed in advance with police and local authorities.
Derek Turner, Network Operations Director at the Highways Agency, said "These diversions are already proving very effective. They take traffic away from incidents, via clearly signed, well planned routes, and direct it back on to our network past the area of trouble. This minimises congestion and makes journey times more predictable for those unfortunate enough to be affected by major incidents."
By the end of March 2009, the Highways Agency aims to have 85 per cent of nearly 2000 diversion routes in place. At present, diversion routes are in place for more than 60 per cent of the Agency's network.
