PURPLE TUBES

[correlejco]

What are the plastic purple tubes for? They are being installed under several Motorways (every few hundred metres on M4) going right under both carriageways and just sticking out of the ground on either side.

Hedgehog Highways? Toad Tunnels? Rabbit Runs?

Or is there a more sinister reason? (Conspiracy theorists have a go)!

[dougc]

Are they conduits for running cables through? I have been up and down the M4 a couple of times recently and all the roadworks signs say that they are 'upgrading driver information systems'. Could be some of those digital gantries with info on them like on the M25?

[GreenV8S]

dougc said:

'upgrading driver information systems'

A cynic would suspect this means information about drivers rather than information for drivers. Aren't 'they' allegedly putting ANPR into every major junction across the network? I read it here so it must be true.

[CombeMarshal]

I don't mind if they put ANPR in, I got nowt to hide!!

[Robin Hood]

Purple indicates data cables, i.e. no power in them. You are right that is for the driver information system. The VMS signs in this instance.

[angrys3owner]

I drive past what they've been doing every day they've been working away from the M25 west installing the infrastructure and bases for more and newer overhead signs - nothing too sinister (yet).