Highways chiefs are to install a £250,000 system to control traffic signals over the next year in a move designed to slash journey times across Telford and Wrekin.
The council hopes the urban traffic management and control system will put an end to complaints from motorists.
The Ketley Brook Roundabout and Trench Lock Interchange are the two main sites for the system.
It would be installed by April next year and would link all traffic signals across the borough to a single nerve centre.
Computers would automatically adjust the lights’ timing to keep traffic flowing.
The idea is to ensure motorists are not left fuming at lights when roundabouts are empty.
Telford & Wrekin councillor Sean Kelly said: “While the system will be live in 2009 it will take some time to roll it out across the borough as a whole.”
He said the Ketley Brook Roundabout and Trench Lock Interchanges were the immediate priority.
Councillor Kelly said improvements had already been made at Ketley Brook Roundabout, with signal timings and an extra lane added to the southern approach on Whitchurch Drive.
He said that, from his point of view, if they were starting from scratch he would not want traffic lights but they were having to “make the best out of a bad situation”.
Councillor Kelly said complaints about the roundabout and congestion after the traffic lights were first installed had been reduced since the initial changes were made.
But he said: “That is not to say the problems have stopped. I am fully aware those traffic lights are not working to the best of their abilities,” he added.
Councillor Kelly, who is assistant cabinet member for environment and regeneration, said: “The most important point is to reassure people that traffic is still a priority for us.
“We are going to implement as soon as we can the urban traffic management and control system.”
A Telford & Wrekin Council spokeswoman said: “The urban traffic management and control system involves any junction controlled by signals.”
By Lisa Rowley
12 Comments
Trench Lock - a total fiasco. And now another £250,000….
Why not just scrap all the unnecessary traffic light on traffic islands and save the cost?
Now here’s an idea, why not save the cash, use it on improving public transport, switch off the lights and let the roundabouts go back to how they were - less congestion, less accidents and faster journey times !!!!! - ooops too much joined up thinking maybe ??
It will end up being like all the other changes to the Telford road system a cock up by Telford illustrious highways department.
Where have most of the traffic lights gone from the Easton way island gone? May be they will paper in April next year.
This department is not spending the budget wisely, never have never will or you could say we have two hopes and ones called Bob!
ohwell they have only wasted a few thousand with what they have already installed!
I’ve got a much better and cheaper idea. Why not just turn off the lights and use roundabout as they are supposed to be used….to keep traffic flowing. If these are to cost only £250,000 then why are the Shrewsbury ones at Emestry costing nearly £5Million? Sounds a bit like overspend to me!
Meh.
Two things spring to mind here.
1. Either T & W are admitting that the re-engineering of Ketley Brook and Trench Lock has been a complete disaster, and it’ll cost a further £250,000 on top of that already spent to undo the problems created.
2. They are planning more engineered congestion at the taxpayers expense.
Cynical? Moi?
Putting the road system back to how it was a couple of years ago ie reinstating the 60 limits and removing the traffic lights would reduce journey times and complaints !
I do agree with the 60 mph limits being changed. It means there is a steady flow of trafic approching the islands notloads of car racing down at 60.
I think what Wavey is saying, Martin, is that all of the useless new 40 and 50 limits in Telford should be restored to their original 60 limit.
I consider “60″ hardly a “racing” speed.
Martin, that’s rubbish. Cars don’t enter islands at 60 MPH unless totally mad but slow accordingly dependant on conditions, however what about the mile or so between islands, to keep traffic at only 40 just causes congestion and frustration.
It seems strange that I have never heard anyone praise the so called “experts” in the traffic dept for getting it right on any occassion. It does make you wonder exactly how qualified these so called experts are and in some cases even if they drive at all. It appears sometimes, to me, that they have to come up with these airbrained schemes every so often just to make it look as if they are working and to justify their enormous salaries.