Tony Slater, managing director of the SMP Alliance, announced he would be moving on to take up a fresh career challenge in an email to suppliers.

His decision to leave has raised speculation that National Highways’ SMP Alliance could now be wound up as workloads have diminished dramatically following the decision to curtail the Smart motorway programme over safety fears.

Slater has been involved with smart motorways since 2018, initially with Balfour Beatty in its smart motorways team before joining National Highways in 2020.

Slater started his career in the rail sector as an engineer and before Balfour, worked with Carillion and Volker Rail.

He said: “I’m not going anywhere just yet, and will be around for a few months longer. While I don’t know at this time who will be taking over from me – further details will be revealed in due course.

“This decision has not been easy, and is certainly not a reflection on SMP Alliance, or National Highways.

“I care deeply about the Alliance, and particularly the people. I’ve relished the opportunity it has given me, even with the immensely challenging environment we’ve all faced with significant changes to our scope and programme of works.”

Slater said he could not pre-empt a formal announcement on his new role in the industry.

The SMP Alliance was set up to deliver a huge programme of motorway upgrades but has now been reduced to largely delivering central reserve works and retrofitting emergency refuge areas to improve safety for vehicles users on all lanes running stretch of motorways.

One supplier told the Enquirer: “I think there is a growing feeling that the SMP Alliance could be wrapped up in the future.

“Works have been significantly scaled down and the remaining central reserve and ERA works could easily be switched to the Regional Delivery Partnership programme. This route has kept a tighter control on outturn costs compared with the SMP.”