Highways England has released the first sections of its updated road design manual to ensure future roads are designed, built and maintained to the highest standards.

The 'Design Manual for Roads and Bridges' (DMRB) was first published in 1992 and is accepted as the cornerstone for the delivery and management of motorway and all-purpose trunk roads across the UK, as well as being a respected document worldwide.

In April last year, Experts at Highways England began the task of updating the complete suite of over 350 documents as well as associated interim advice notes (IANs) that make up the manual. This is a specific requirement of the Protocol attached to the Highways England Licence as part of the Government's Road Investment Strategy.

The first four documents of the updated DMRB are;

• Introduction to the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges

• Requirements for safety risk assessment

• Use of Compressive Membrane Action in Bridge Decks


• Management of Corrugated Steel Buried Structures

A number of changes have been made, including;

• a new structure of the volumes to be aligned to asset life-cycle stages, from appraisal to design up to disposal

• new numbering systems of documents reflecting the relevant asset life-cycle stage and the specific discipline covered by the document

• new style of individual clauses to make a clear distinction between requirements and advisory material

• incorporation of interim advice notes (IANs) into the DMRB as relevant

• consolidation of DMRB ‘A' (advisory) documents with related ‘D' (design) documents

• introduction of National Application Annexes attached to the DMRB to cover the specific requirements of the Overseeing Organisations

Several leading UK consultants have supported Highways England with the update, and a new set of drafting rules has been used, which follows best practice from national and international standardisation organisations.

Overall, the update puts design requirements at its core and it will also make it easier to incorporate developments in design best practice.

Highways England Chief Highway Engineer, Mike Wilson, said: "This is an exciting time for the highways sector as we continue to successfully deliver the record £15bn investment in roads. The updated DMRB documents mark a historic moment for the design of the UK's motorways and major A-roads.

"I would like to thank the Devolved Administrations and our supply chain who have supported this significant review, which will ensure our roads are designed, built and maintained to the very highest, safest standards for the millions of drivers that use these roads every day."

The updated DMRB documents will be released in phases, with completion due by March 2020.

(LM/MH)