CGI secures £21m deal to help National Highways build data-driven road network

National Highways (NH) has extended its contract with IT and consulting firm CGI for a further five years, in a move aimed at turning its data-intensive infrastructure into more accessible, real-time services.

Running until 30 June 2030, the agreement - valued at around £21 million - will support NH’s Data Architecture and Engineering programme, sharpening the maturity of its data foundations and digital platform. 

NH’s network spans around 4,500 miles of motorways and major A-roads in England, with millions of journeys a day generating data through sensors, CCTV and smart-motorway systems. NH values its data assets at more than £60 billion, underlining the scale of the opportunity it seeks to exploit. 

As part of the deal, CGI will support NH to share live updates on incidents and road closures via navigation platforms such as Google Maps and Waze, enabling better planning for drivers and freight operators. It will also help consolidate disparate data sources onto a unified digital platform, improving accessibility and usability of operational data across NH. 

NH’s Head of Data Architecture & Engineering, Adam Locker, emphasised the value of turning raw data into timely insight: “Our data is one of our most valuable assets... this next phase will help us use our operational data in a more meaningful and timely way.”