Highway Drainage Microplastics Monitoring and Assessment

National Highways seeks a contractor to conduct comprehensive monitoring and assessment of microplastics and emerging pollutants in the Strategic Road Network's drainage systems. This Phase 4 project will establish year-round monitoring protocols to evaluate how effectively current highway drainage infrastructure removes pollutants—particularly tyre wear particles—before they enter rivers and sensitive water environments. The work will identify evidence gaps in existing guidance and assessment methods that predate current microplastics concerns, and will generate robust data to inform policy updates, drainage design standards, and pollution mitigation strategies. Deliverables will include monitoring results, environmental impact analysis, and recommendations for improved drainage design and contaminant management. This urgent initiative addresses increasing regulatory and public scrutiny by providing the scientific evidence needed to ensure National Highways meets environmental responsibilities and maintains public confidence in network sustainability. Suppliers should have expertise in environmental monitoring, water quality assessment, drainage systems analysis, and microplastics/particulate matter characterization.