The new QMB (Quickchange Moveable Barrier) machine, the first and only one of its kind to be used in the UK, will be out on Friday 29 September as part of the Highways Agency improvement scheme to add a crawler lane to the A21 near Sevenoaks.

The new machine can lift 12 tonnes of concrete safety barriers into place at a speed of 7 mph. On the A21, this means that barriers can be moved twice a day to increase the number of lanes available to traffic for the morning and evening peak travel periods. The concrete barrier also offers better safety protection to road workers. Normally, the traffic management layouts at major roadwords can only offer a fixed number of lanes because it is too difficult to move safety barriers.

The Quick Moveable Barrier (QMB) machine, launched in August as part of the Highways Agency Roadworker Safety day, has been brought to the UK from America for trials on the Highways Agency's network of England's major roads.

Brain Barton, Safety Standards and Research Manager for the Highways Agency said:"The new machine not only protects workers, but the system is also effective in reducing congestion by allowing lanes to be quickly and easily moved while work is undertaken. The Highways Agency sees the QMB system as an important innovation which will significantly help reduce the risk to roadworkers as well as reducing congestion and improving traffic flow."