Koningen Highways Consultancy

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About

Chris Koningen FdEng CMILT

Principal Highway Design Engineer and Project Manager. Twenty years of designing, approving and building highway schemes, now working directly with clients as an independent.

Chris Koningen
  • FdEng Civil Engineering
  • CMILT Chartered
  • PRINCE2 Certified
  • CDM Principal Designer
  • AutoCAD 2D Expert
Background

Twenty years, both sides of the table

I am a Principal Engineer and Chartered Transport Professional with two decades of experience in highway design, project management, delivery, site supervision, and client and contractor liaison across both the public and private sectors.

Most of that was spent at a highway authority, latterly leading a team of five engineers and project managers, and before that designing and delivering improvement schemes across multiple districts. That matters more than it might sound. I have spent years on the side of the table that reviews and approves Section 278 submissions, which is why I know what a good one looks like and where the avoidable delays come from.

I am recognised for applying innovative and forward-thinking approaches while maintaining a firm focus on quality, safety and compliance, and I have a keen eye for detail, particularly in the improvement of transport infrastructure.

Alongside the technical work, I care a great deal about developing people. I have mentored engineers throughout my career and am committed to encouraging the next generation into the industry. The approach I take is to help someone find their own way through a problem rather than hand them mine, offering support and a straight answer wherever it is needed.

What I bring

Three things clients rely on

Highway technical expertise

Extensive knowledge of both national and local highway standards, CDM regulations and risk assessment, applied to develop solutions that are innovative where that helps and conventional where it does not.

Project management excellence

PRINCE2 project management applied so that schemes are delivered on time, within scope, to a high standard, and actually meeting the requirements of the people who will use them.

Leadership and communication

Driving performance through mentorship and clear communication, and building the client, stakeholder and contractor relationships that determine whether a scheme runs smoothly or does not.

Career

Where the experience comes from

Koningen Highways Consultancy was established in 2025, following twenty years in highway design and delivery.

  • Freelance Principal Highway Design Engineer & Project Manager 2025 to present

    Koningen Highways Consultancy

    • Section 278 design and technical approval for developers, consultancies and architects
    • Project management of highway and infrastructure schemes
    • Training, mentoring and process design for engineering teams
  • Principal Highway Design Engineer & Project Manager 2022 to 2025

    Kent County Council

    • Led a team of five highway project managers and engineers, ensuring compliance and quality of deliverables while encouraging innovation and value engineering
    • Designed, project managed and oversaw on-site delivery of own schemes, completing complex solutions on time and within budget
    • Mentored team members and fostered regular site attendance, enabling learning in both desktop and practical environments
    • Developed and implemented technical systems, processes, training and best practice
  • Highway Design Engineer & Project Manager 2008 to 2022

    Kent County Council

    • Design and delivery of highway improvement projects across multiple districts, including AutoCAD drawings, sign designs, bills of quantity, pre-construction information, Early Contractor Involvement, road space liaison and traffic management
    • Commissioning of road safety audits and engagement with all relevant stakeholders
    • Technical implementation and site supervision
  • Highway Design Technician 2005 to 2008

    InterRoute JV (Mott MacDonald)

    • Produced AutoCAD drawings, contract specifications and traffic management layouts
    • Supported senior engineers in design and site supervision
Qualifications

Formally, on paper

Chartership and certification matter here for a practical reason: highway authorities, funders and your own professional indemnity insurers all want to know that the person producing the design is qualified to do so.

  • Professional Indemnity £2,000,000
  • Public Liability £5,000,000

Certificate of insurance provided on request.

  • Chartered Transport Professional, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport
  • PRINCE2, Axelos / PeopleCert
  • Foundation Degree in Civil Engineering, University of Kent
  • CDM 2015 for Principal Designers, National Construction College
  • Performance Coaching for Leadership, Institute of Leadership and Management
  • AutoCAD (2D), fully proficient and former in-house trainer
  • TSRGD 2016, Traffic Signs Manual, DMRB, MCHW, Manual for Streets
  • Extensive knowledge of local authority highway design standards
How I work

What you can expect

  • A straight answer, including when it is not the one you were hoping for
  • The same person from first conversation to final handover
  • Plain English explanations of anything technical, as a matter of course
  • Scope and price agreed in writing before work begins
  • Problems raised while they can still be fixed, not reported afterwards
  • Health and safety considered from the first design decision
Get in touch Capability statement (PDF)

Let's talk about your scheme

An initial conversation costs nothing and usually clarifies a great deal. Call, email, or send a few details through the enquiry form.

Make an enquiry 07967 123478