M621 J1-7 Improvements – Post-Opening Monitoring
The challenge
Following open-for-traffic in September 2024, monitoring was required to identify remedial implementation issues (construction snagging), consider other post-operational performance issues, and validate ops and safety design assumptions. Four monitoring deliverables were successfully completed (Day One, Week One, 3-Month, and 6-Month), each reporting across 16 metrics detailed within the scheme’s Plan for Monitoring Operations.
What we did
4way led the post-opening monitoring task, which involved: drive-through and walkthrough surveys, ROC visits and Operations liaison, data analysis (MIDAS, ControlWorks, ServiceNow, pedestrian incident logs, remedial works logs), and extensive stakeholder engagement (scheme delivery partners, National Highways maintenance teams, Leeds City Council, West Yorkshire Police). We deployed individual teams to simultaneously conduct the surveys, ROC visits, collect data and stakeholder feedback, and process information for each monitoring deliverable. We also implemented a new structure and format to our monitoring reports that aimed to significantly enhance contextual clarity. This enabled action tracking efficiencies and helped recognise the collaborative efforts undertaken to improve individual monitoring metrics from preceding reports.
Results
National Highways SES commended our approach to post-opening monitoring. Our robust reports helped support stakeholders to successfully expedite remedial issues and validate ops and safety design assumptions (incl. confirmation that the scheme is exceeding its safety objectives). The exercise also highlighted specific localised issues regarding Elland Road Stadium match day congestion and local pedestrians (non-road-users) accessing the network that, while not caused by the scheme, had previously gone underreported. The scheme has empowered stakeholders to take coordinated action to address these issues.
Scope
- Operations and safety governance
- Post-opening monitoring and evaluation
- Technical reports
- Stakeholder liaison and qualitative feedback
- Site surveys
- Technology performance analysis, diagnosis, and remediation
- Personal injury collision and incident analyses
- Traffic flow, speed, and driver behaviour analyses
For more information about this project please contact Craig Clift or Jason Loader at info@4wayconsulting.com