The new pioneering technology aims to reduce the risks associated with cone laying activities across the company’s highways operations.

New vehicles can deploy or collect a cone in under 10 seconds, removing the need for operatives to manually lift up to five tonnes of equipment per shift.

Phil Clifton, Balfour Beatty’s managing director for highways, said: “We’re delighted to become the first construction company in the UK to successfully roll out these revolutionary new automated cone laying machines.

“This is yet another example of the investment Balfour Beatty has made to transform how we work on our roads, showing that we continue to lead the charge in setting a new standard for safety.”

He added: “We hope the machines will radically improve the lives of highways workers by reducing their direct exposure to a live road environment – demonstrating our commitment to achieving zero harm and to sending our people home safe and well every day.”