Bridgend County Borough Council is using a modern approach to temporary traffic light system’s to help regeneration works in Bridgend town centre.
A first of its kind in Wales, the modern system is being used during the upgrade of the traffic lights located at the junction of Park Street and Angel Street, along the A473. Delays have been kept to a minimum and all feedback has been positive.
The system is designed to mimic the set-up of the original traffic lights so flow of vehicles can continue as normal as possible. Council officers are also monitoring the traffic flow to ensure the system is effective.
The refurbishment of the existing traffic lights is needed as they are over 25 years old and the upgrade is essential to safeguard pedestrians, as well as making sure that traffic is managed in the best way possible on what is one of the county borough’s busiest routes.
The works follow-on from previous work completed on traffic lights at the A473’s junction with Broadlands.
The work is scheduled to be completed within the next five weeks. Councillor John Spanswick, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “I welcome the essential changes being made to the traffic light system in Bridgend. It’s pleasing to see that the council is leading the way, by pioneering this new temporary system, to enable improvements to be carried out with the least disruption as possible to motorists.”
Meanwhile, the speed limit on a number of residential roads in Bridgend County Borough is set to change from 30mph to 20mph next year.
Welsh Government has approved the move as part of new plans for reducing pollution, increasing road safety and encouraging people to use alternative modes of transport for making short journeys.
The proposals will mainly affect roads in residential areas which meet specific criteria, such as having streetlights placed every 200 yards.
It follows a series of pilot schemes carried out around Wales as well as research which has confirmed that pedestrians are 40 per cent less likely to die when hit by a car travelling at 20mph compared with one that is travelling at 30mph.
The chance of survival for someone struck by a vehicle travelling at 20mph is 97 per cent, but this decreases with every additional mile that is added to the vehicle’s speed.
With research also demonstrating that reducing the speed limit in residential areas causes vehicles to use less fuel and significantly cuts down on emissions, the plans have been supported by organisations such as Public Health Wales, Living Streets Cymru, Sustrans Cymru and Cycling UK Cymru.
Bridgend County Borough Council is studying the proposals in further detail, and will be issuing further information on how this will affect local streets and roads.
The new speed limit will begin in September 2023 – look out for more details soon.
