Traffic lights upgrade with £500k from Government
TRAFFIC lights across Derby are to be upgraded and repaired thanks to the award of £500,000 in additional Government funding.
Derby City Council has been granted the extra money which will be used to identify city areas where traffic flow can be improved and therefore reduce air pollution and congestion.
The city council is one of 39 local authorities in England to have been given a share of
£15 million additional Department for Transport funding, and one of 21 coun- cils to receive the highest award of £500,000.
Councillor Matthew Holmes, cabi- net member for regen- eration, decarbonisation and strategic planning and transport, and deputy leader of the council, said: “This is a fantastic result for Derby allowing us to upgrade our traffic signal assets with the latest technology.
“Ongoing maintenance of traffic signals is always a challenge but it is vital as we strive to improve road safety, congestion and our climate change goals.”
The funding will be used to support programmes of work until March 2023.
In a project which began before the additional funding was awarded, the traffic lights at Pentagon Island are currently being replaced, with the aim to have work finished before Christmas. The major roadworks project, expected to take 20 weeks to complete, got under way at one of the city’s busiest roundabouts late last month. The work, which will also see all the pedestrian and cyclist crossing points replaced, is being completed by Derby City Council’s own in-house team.
All 121 English local authorities outside London were invited to register interest in the additional money, and more than 100 of them did so. Councils were asked to provide evidence of their current traffic signal maintenance policies and practices and required to detail their strategies and preparedness for future technology opportunities, along with any specific issues around maintenance needs and priorities. A spokesperson for Derby City Council added: “The latest traffic signal technology improves the efficiency of the road network for road users, providing better provision for pedestrians, cyclists and vulnerable road users as well as motor vehicles.”
This is a fantastic result for Derby allowing us to upgrade our traffic signal assets with the latest technology.
Cllr Matthew Holmes