Since the success of the 2004 “Advanced Traffic Management” pilot on the M42 east of Birmingham, the UK Highways Agency has deployed over 50 km of managed motorways (dynamic hard shoulder running, variable speed limits, lane signalling, etc). The experience from these deployments has been very positive ‐ improved flow, reduced accidents, fewer emissions ‐ all at a fraction of the cost and environmental impact of traditional widening. In fact, the performance of managed motorways has exceeded expectations, notably in terms of safety, and this has led the Highways Agency to consider how to deliver the objectives of managed motorways at an even lower cost. This paper traces the history of managed motorways in the UK and describes currently thinking around the new “All Lane Running” design that features permanent conversion of the hard shoulder to a running lane. The paper concludes with a discussion about the potential implications of such innovative thinking for highway authorities in North America.