News

We’re proud to announce that our paper, Emergency Diversion Routes: In‑Depth Assessment, has been selected as the UK winner in the Resilience category for the PIARC 17th World Congress on Road Winter Service, Resilience and Decarbonisation. 

This event organised by PIARC (the World Road Association) brings together road authorities, engineers, researchers and industry leaders from around the world to share innovation, best practice and research across three core themes: 

• Winter Service: how countries manage roads during snow, ice and extreme cold 

• Resilience: how road networks withstand disruption, incidents and climate impacts 

• Decarbonisation: how the road sector reduces emissions through technology, materials and operations 

It is one of the most respected international congresses in the highways sector, showcasing leading work from across the world. 

This recognition reflects the strength of our work in analysing and enhancing Emergency Diversion Routes across the M25, as part of our strategy to continually enhance the customer experience. As the network carries 15% of all UK motorway traffic and sees over 250,000 vehicles a day at its busiest point, ensuring resilience on such a critical route is essential for both road users and the communities who live and work alongside it. 

CPS has a strong customer ethos, with the aim of improving the experience for everyone using the M25 and for the communities living and working alongside it. This is underpinned by our Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system and analysis tools, which enables teams to identify trends,respond quickly to issues, and develop improvements, including those related to diversion routes. This customer‑focused approach played a key role in shaping the enhancements made through this project. 

Our assessment focused on 65 diversion routes, using satellite and road‑based imagery to identify key local features, route obstructions and community impacts. By enhancing each route with clearer actions, warnings and customer‑focused insights, supported by CPS’s CRM data, the project has delivered: 

• Improved operational information, enabling teams to select the optimal diversion route during incidents and minimise disruption for both motorway users and those relying on the surrounding Local Authority road network. 

• Reduced community impacts, with better awareness of hospitals, emergency service routes, schools, shopping centres and public transport hubs helping to protect wellbeing and maintain access to essential services and daily activities. 

• A measurable reduction in diversion‑related issues, with a 13% decrease in 2024 compared with the previous year, demonstrating the positive effect of clearer, more resilient diversion planning. 

This achievement is a testament to the collaborative work between CPS, AtkinsRéalis and our partners, and to the commitment shown across the team to improving resilience, customer experience and community outcomes on the M25. It also reflects the growing industry recognition of the importance of robust diversion‑route planning. 

Congratulations to everyone involved, a fantastic recognition of the innovative and industry‑shaping impact demonstrated through this work.