National Highways has launched a search for designs for a new generation of highway gantries that are more sympathetic to the environment.
The government-owned company linked the competition, which is being run by and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) to its ongoing good design initiative.
It added that it will not alter the technology within gantries and that any new designs ‘will ultimately still have road safety at their core’.
The current standardised Cantilever Gantry
Chief highways engineer Mike Wilson said: ’This is a great opportunity for us to start to look for creative solutions aligned with our commitment to good road design.
‘Existing designs tend to emphasise function over form; our challenge is to create innovative structures that can accommodate the required signage and equipment that are more sympathetic to the environment.’
‘The competition opens up the opportunity to develop a more streamlined, elegant, and consistent visual appearance for roadside gantries to enhance drivers’ experience.’
RIBA architect adviser Jonathan McDowell said: ‘It is very encouraging that National Highways are actively engaging the design community in helping to improve the design of these ubiquitous but cumbersome parts of the motorway experience - we look forward to seeing a wide range of creative and elegant proposals that take up the challenge.’
Super-span Cantilever Gantry
The brief for the competition clarifies that the immediate requirement is for a standardised design for the Cantilever and Super-span Cantilever variants (both pictured above).
It adds: ‘Consideration of how the design themes can be aligned to the wider family, Super-span Portal and Portal gantries, is also required but only to a level to illustrate a consistent family approach.’
The competition runs for eight weeks and is open to all architects and architect-led teams. It is being funded by National Highways’ designated fund for innovation and modernisation. The submission deadline is midday on 24 January.
Portal Gantry
National Highways said the winner is expected to be announced early next year and will work with it to develop their design concept, with a view to it becoming the standard design for new roads and major upgrades from around two years’ time.
National Highways’ fifth annual report on the progress of the good design initiative was published last month.
