Developer Portal and API release notes

Release notes list all of the changes that are introduced by new release both to the Developer Portal and the hosted APIs. Use them to check for any known issues, and what changes you might need to make before you migrate your app to use any new version released.

2024-04 (1.2) - Road and Lane Closures API

This patch for Road and Lane Closures provides the following new features:

  • Delta querying - in response to feedback, a new modifiedSinceDateTime parameter enables callers to obtain delta information and implement more efficient processes that reduce both the call time and the amount of data processed.

This patch also includes the following fixes:

  • Road and Lane Closure API: R&LC duplicate location data detected - a fix to the data processing logic ensures that a distinct set of locations is returned

  • Developer Portal: Alignment of boxes on Home page and button styles

2024-03 (1.0) - Technical Release of Road and Lane Closures API

The Road and Lane Closures is a new data service to describe all future and current road and lane closures resulting from incidents, roadworks, or any other reason.
Today, the technical release of this service will provide information on planned closures only.
NOTE: Data is refreshed daily at 14:00, be mindful of this when using the data, as it could be up to 24 hours old.
Across 2024, the service will be iteratively improved to provide near real-time information on both planned and unplanned closures.

2025-01 (1.0) - Digital Variable Message Signs API

The Digital Variable Message Signs (DVMS) data service offers developers access to data regarding the messages displayed on electronic variable message signs along England's motorways and major A roads due to roadworks, incidents, or any other reason.
For the initial deployment, National Highways has excluded specific 'instructional' messages from the API's scope. This precautionary measure is directed to address risks associated with external organisations presenting conflicting directives to road users due to delays in processing National Highways data or latency issues.
It's important to highlight that the majority of non-instructional messages are included in the API feed, as they do not present the same risk when subject to transmission delays.

2025-02 (2.0) - Road and Lane Closures API v2.0 and Developer Portal updates

This new version of Road and Lane Closures provides the following new features:

  • Updated refresh cadence with updates from roadworks management systems occurring regularly throughout the day

  • Updated DATEX II payload re-aligned to v3.4

  • NOTE: this is a breaking change and applications will need mappings updated to process the payload

This patch also includes the following updates to the Developer Portal:

  • Updated look and feel to home page

  • Updated feedback mechanism to enable streamlined issue resolution

2025-02 - Diversion Routes Spatial Dataset released on National Highways Open Data Portal

National Highways has released a spatial dataset for diversion routes used to deal with emergency situations, the dataset is available from here (opens in new window)