Easing congestion in Bedford with further traffic light upgrades

Work to upgrade the traffic lights at the junction of London Road and Elstow Road in Bedford will start this week.

Over the course of three weeks, these works will see equipment and software put in place to improve the detection and control of traffic, along with new signal heads, re-wiring, and some pavement works at the crossing points.

This is part of the wider Transporting Bedford project, which has seen major works carried out on congestion hotspots in the town including Britannia Road and Manton Lane.

Part of this project is the upgrading of a number of traffic light junctions with the latest technology so that they operate more efficiently, reduce congestion, and improve journey times for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

These upgrades will make Bedford's traffic light system better connected, better able to respond to demand and help manage traffic.

The work at the London Road and Elstow Road junction joins other recently upgraded traffic light junctions including Newhnam Avenue and Goldington Road, River Street and Midland Road, St Peters Street and St Cuthbert’s Street, and Bromham Road and Union Street.

Further traffic light upgrades will be taking place at Prebend Street, Kingsway and Cauldwell Street early next year.

Cllr Charles Royden, portfolio holder for transport, said: “These traffic light upgrades are relatively minor pieces of work when compared with the major structural road changes taking place elsewhere in the town through the Transporting Bedford project.

"But they are no less important in their impact; by upgrading these junctions and making our traffic management network better connected, we should see congestion start to reduce, and our roads become safer.

“During these three weeks of works at London Road and Elstow Road, there will be temporary traffic lights in place to keep this junction moving and safe for all.

"Overnight resurfacing works are also taking place further along London Road, minimising future disruption for residents and businesses in the area.”

Transporting Bedford is an £18million project to tackle congestion hotspots in Bedford, funded by both Bedford Borough Council and £15.5M funding from the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP), through the Local Growth Fund and represents the largest ever investment in Bedford’s roads.