Series
•5 minutes with… Sonny Dhand
How did you get into transport and highways engineering?
I came into the profession somewhat unexpectedly, but it quickly became clear that it was the right fit for me. I come from a family of engineers, so infrastructure and design were always a part of my environment.
From there, I found myself increasingly drawn to highways and transport work, after initially taking a role at my local authority supporting the major junction upgrade of the Brunel Roundabout. It taught me about how design decisions directly influence how people move, connect and experience a place. Highways and transport offers technical precision (geometric design, traffic modelling, safety) and the broader objectives of sustainability and quality of place.
What does a transport engineer bring to a project?
On the technical side, we contribute core engineering expertise – things like alignment and junction design, capacity modelling, drainage and utility coordination, and ensuring compliance with relevant standards.
But I think what really defines a good transport engineer is the ability to connect those technical elements to the bigger system; how roads, junctions, pedestrian and cycle networks and public transport all interact. A highway doesn’t exist in isolation; it’s part of a wider mobility and place strategy.
One great example of this is Mayes Road, because the scheme wasn’t just about putting cycle lanes in, it required understanding how that corridor functions within Wood Green as a whole. We had to balance bus movements, loading, pedestrian flows, and high-street activity while still delivering a safe, continuous cycle route. The real engineering challenge was stitching all those elements together so the scheme works as part of a wider, people-focused mobility network rather than as an isolated piece of infrastructure.
“I think what really defines a good transport engineer is the ability to connect those technical elements to the bigger system; how roads, junctions, pedestrian and cycle networks and public transport all interact.
A highway doesn’t exist in isolation; it’s part of a wider mobility and place strategy.”
What’s coming next for you and the team?
We’re actively expanding our capabilities around low-carbon materials with our in house, self-funded research initiative, HTS+, exploring how alternative binders, recycled aggregates, and innovative pavement technologies can reduce embodied carbon without compromising performance.
Another big focus for us is smart infrastructure and systems that can respond to real-time conditions, such as adaptive traffic control and data-led asset management.
We’re also evolving how we work with clients. Increasingly, we’re engaging earlier in project lifecycles, so that we help shape the brief rather than just respond to it. That early collaboration means we can embed sustainability and user outcomes from day one, rather than retrofit them later.
From a broader perspective, we’re very aware of the policy shifts happening, around decarbonisation, active travel, and urban mobility both in London and nationally. We want to make sure our team is at the forefront of those changes, helping clients meet net-zero targets and create transport systems that support healthier, more connected communities.
Which HTS projects are you most enjoying working on at the moment?
There are a couple of current schemes that I’m really enjoying – one is the Earlestown Market Place project. It brings together so many layers: technical highways engineering, drainage and materials design, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability measures such as permeable surfacing and increased urban greening. It’s not just about improving traffic flow – it’s about giving the marketplace back to the people who use it every day.
Another project I’ve been enjoying is the Fossetts Farm Development. That one is particularly interesting because it’s part of a larger mixed-use development, so the transport design has to support new housing, employment, and leisure areas all at once. We’ve been looking carefully at movement frameworks, junction capacity, and active travel routes, making sure that the site connects well to surrounding communities and reduces car dependency.
We’re using transport engineering not just to move vehicles, but to create places that are accessible, sustainable, and enjoyable.
Earlestown, Market Place
What are you excited about working on for sustainable, improved design throughout London?
I think we have a real opportunity to reimagine highways and transport design so it’s not just about moving cars, but about enabling people, creating streets that are healthier, greener, and better connected.
What really excites me is the chance to work on projects where infrastructure actively supports sustainable mobility (walking, cycling, and public transport) and where we design for complete, integrated journeys rather than individual modes in isolation.
Crucially, I believe the best outcomes occur when communities are engaged early and when design quality, placemaking, and inclusivity shape the project from the start. Transport should never just deliver movement; it should help create character, equity, and a stronger sense of place for all users from all walks of life.
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