A Dorset junction has been chosen to trial the latest signal technology.
Siemens, which supplies Dorset Council with all its signal equipment, started work on Monday 11 November to replace equipment at the A30 Greenhill/Coldharbour/Bristol Road signalised junction.
Although the physical appearance of the junction will remain the same, the new signal heads contain the latest technology, which isn’t released for sale yet but will become the next generation of signals. The signal poles will also be replaced during the three weeks work.
The equipment upgrade and installation of the signal heads is being provided by Siemens free of charge, with Dorset Council paying for the new signal posts and installation as part of its ongoing maintenance programme.
Kate Tunks, Dorset Council Highways Service Manager for Infrastructure and Assets, said: “We’re continually working with our contractors and partners to improve the materials, equipment and systems that we use.
“The equipment being trialled in Sherborne could lead the way for all future installations and it’s great that Dorset will have played a part in this.”
The new junction should be switched on this week (starting 25 November).
Next generation signals
Traditional traffic control systems use multiple cable connections between the signals and the traffic controller ‘computer’ by the side of the road.
The new system uses computer intelligence within the signals themselves to significantly reduce the number of individual cable connections, with the main benefit of speeding up construction time and reducing costs.
Full benefits include:
- Less time on site
- Less traffic management
- Less disruption to drivers
- Fewer cables
- Fewer trenches needed for ducting
- Reduced installation costs
- Easier replacement
- Better reliability (cable fault tolerance)
Some clarification
The set up at this junction will be no different from what is in place at the moment.
At this junction, we had the opportunity to trial the latest technology and brought forward the replacement of the signal poles to coincide with this. There have been no changes to the sequence of the signals.
Each signal site is evaluated on an individual basis but green time for pedestrians can vary due to detectors which extend the green time to suit slower pedestrians.
Our main purpose in any upgrade of junctions is to improve capacity and achieve a balance between traffic flows from conflicting directions while providing a safe pedestrian environment. However, with more vehicles on our roads year-on-year this is becoming an increasingly harder task.
Does it do any more than those it has replaced? Are maintenance and running costs any less than before? Thank you Barry Nessling
Hi Barry, thanks for getting in touch.
The new equipment is extra low voltage and uses LED technology so will use significantly less energy than before; reducing energy costs and lowering our carbon footprint.
The maintenance cost will also be reduced due to the way the cabling is now installed which will speed up repairs, reducing traffic management costs and reducing disruption for drivers.
All well and good , but could you chase the electricity suppliers………..the street lights on half of the brdge over the A31 at West Moors have been out for nearly THREE WEEKS. ALAN BILLINGHAM
Sounds like a big improvement. Quite often pass this junction on the way to Sherborne GC from Corscombe. Hope trial goes smoothly, but no doubt there will be some teething problems. Only to be expected though. Good luck.
Is this the same system installed in Christchurch on Somerford Road that didn’t work and had to be ripped out?
Hi Bob, this is a different system so we won’t have the same, unfortunate issues.
What are the ACTUAL effects that are noticeable, as a driver?
All very well you save a bit of energy, but will it actually help traffic flow?! That’s the key, sequence of the lights, across Dorset, causes so many problems. E.g. quiet side roads often get much longer green lights than main roads, this is apparent across Dorset. The roads are hideous enough, and fancy new environmentally friendly lights are no good if they still don’t address the traffic flow problems.
I agree with Matt, no comment from Dorset, dare I say, you do not know, they were not changed over on 28th in the pm,
Traffic flow is not the be all and end all of traffic management. Planners have to take into account road users other than operators of motor vehicles.
I wonder if traffic engineers in Dorset have shares in Siemens! In the last 2 years the A30 at Shaftesbury has had TWO sets installed, just to serve a new ( and not enormous) housing estate. There is not a huge amount of traffic on the A30, but it is often held up for no reason, and the housing estate gets equal billing with the main A3o. There are even traffic lights on the 100 yard dead end which is one day intended as a commercial site – still operating although the area is just derelict.
There is AMPLE room to put in roundabouts, and the A30 traffic is light enough not to hogthe right of way. The current set up is nonsensical
We have been wondering why it takes three weeks to carry out these works. If it is supposed to cut down on the disruption to traffic please let us know why? It’s been horrendous! The old lights were perfectly fine. Even tuned in to know when there wasn’t traffic and very quick to change. What is it that you (Dorset Council) are going to reduce our Carbon emissions by? Please keep us updated, since we’re definitely not convinced.
Without some hard wiring is there any risk from interference (electrical) or equipment failure of all lights showing green?