Hundreds of traffic lights are to be upgraded across Liverpool City Region in a multi-million pound energy and money saving programme.
More than 750 signals across five of the six areas of Liverpool City Region will be improved as part of an £8.3m scheme that will replace existing halogen traffic signals upgraded to LED technology. The new lights were approved and agreed by Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram and the Combined Authority earlier this month.
By replacing the existing lights across the five boroughs, it is said energy usage and costs will be slashed by 75% with estimates suggesting that carbon emissions will come down by 1,300 tonnes and savings of around £400,000 per year. Halton will be the only area to not receive new lights as there are no existing halogen signals still in place.
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The programme, to be undertaken by mobility tech company Yunex Traffic, will include the upgrading of more than 9,000 signal aspects, including 2,400 pedestrian crossing indicators.
Contractors Yunex will also install pollution sensors across the city region following their appointment following the tendering process.
Cllr Liam Robinson, transport portfolio holder for Liverpool City Region, said that faced with “climate emergency and public health crises we need to make sure that we are tackling the carbon emissions which are destroying our environment as well as poor air quality which impacts the health of people across our city region.” He added: “That’s why technology like this, which will help to reduce carbon output – as well as making important cost savings – is going to be so important as we work towards our goal of the Liverpool City Region becoming net zero carbon by 2040.”
Wilke Reints, Managing Director of Yunex Traffic in the UK, said: “Our retrofit solution will deliver significant carbon savings across the Liverpool City Region, with ongoing energy and cost savings that support environmental, economic and social sustainability. “As the incumbent traffic signal maintenance provider for LCRCA, we have strong working relationships with all the individual authorities and a detailed understanding of their transport operations and networks.
“Our field services teams are now looking forward to working closely with colleagues in each council to deliver this programme.”
