The DfT is to contribute £3m to help create a digital road map that will “give the most detailed information yet to councils and emergency services”.
The Government believes that the new map, which will be developed by Ordnance Survey, has the “potential to transform how all levels of Government maintain and improve roads” by detailing information such as road widths, traffic calming measures and height and weight restrictions. The dataset could also be linked to other information held by Government, including planned road works and cycle paths.
The information will also help emergency services find the quickest routes when responding to 999 calls.
Local and national Government currently use a variety of maps when planning road projects and maintenance. The new system will bring all existing information together, cutting bureaucracy and saving money spent on exchanging and comparing different maps.
Robert Goodwill, transport minister, said: “This mapping project has the potential to substantially improve how we look after our roads. It will help make journeys more efficient and ensure traffic keeps moving.”
The new digital road map will be added to the Public Sector Mapping Agreement allowing all areas of the public sector to access the data. An entry-level open data version of the road map will also be made available with a full commercial product appearing in the future.
Ordnance Survey, working with street data experts GeoPlace, plan to deliver the initial products before the end of March 2015.
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