The A-One+ joint venture, consisting of CH2M, Costain and Colas, has won an innovation award for its contributions to delivering social, economic and environmental sustainability benefits in transportation.
At the 12th annual Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) Awards ceremony to recognize best practices from across the sector, A-One+ won the prestigious CIHT/Ringway Innovation Award, in partnership with Urbis Schréder and Highways England (HE) for the LED Sculp Gantry Lighting Project.
Originally designed for use in architectural ornamental lighting, A-One+ worked in collaboration with lighting specialist Urbis Schréder to adapt the technology to work for overhead sign gantries on the strategic road network across the M18, M180 and M621 motorways in Yorkshire and Humberside.
The team replaced the conventional gantry lighting with the newly developed LED lighting system to provide bright, effective illumination to highway road signs, low maintenance, and long life durability, a national first. A-One+ then delivered a series of projects to renew lighting on 24 overhead sign gantries for HE. The benefits delivered by the LED Sculp innovation include:
• Whole life cost efficiency savings of £889,600 (US$1.1m);
• A 70% reduction in annual energy consumption;
• Annual energy efficiency savings of £10,000 (US$13,000);
• Annual carbon reduction of 40.8 tonnes;
• Better quality product for customers;
• Reduced working at height for maintenance operatives;
• Reduced maintenance visits and network occupancy.
Commenting on the project, the judging panel said, “We were very impressed by the new use of this innovative technology and its application to the highway environment. A great example of adapting a product solution to create a transformative impact on road user safety, ease of operational installation and maintenance, environmental sustainability and cost. The simplicity of the solution, its transferable potential and considerable impact, persuaded the judges of it representing an excellent example of innovation excellence, striking impact and long-term societal benefit.”
The CIHT’s chief executive, Sue Percy, said, “The innovation shown by the team behind this entry in showing a reduction in whole life cost efficiencies was clearly demonstrated, and we congratulate them for providing such a good example of best practice to the industry.
“This is a true example of taking innovation from another industry, modifying it for the highways sector, and improving value by locking in safety, customer, cost efficiencies and environment benefits.”
