Gloucestershire County Council and its contractor, Telent, are currently upgrading the traffic lights at the Northleach Prison Crossroads on the A429. The work is due to be completed by 3 July.
We have been receiving questions about why the work will take this long and would like to share information received from the traffic signals team.
During the early stages of the project, engineers found a number of unexpected problems, including damaged underground ducting, worn-out pedestrian paving, and the need to move and replace most of the signal poles to meet current safety and design standards.
Because of this additional work, the refurbishment is taking longer than first planned and the permanent traffic lights will be out of use for a longer period.
To help reduce disruption for residents and road users, temporary traffic lights have been put in place while the work continues.
The traffic signals team has also provided the following technical information:
The current signal system is outdated and needs full replacement to bring it up to current specification.
Method of control upgraded to MOVA (Microprocessor Optimised Vehicle Actuation):
As part of the signal refurbishment works, MOVA control will be introduced. The benefits of this method of control include real-time optimisation of signal timings, which improves junction capacity, reduces delays, and provides a more balanced and efficient operation when compared to fixed-time or standard vehicle actuation (VA) control. (Key points listed below).
- Reduced Delays
- Improved Traffic Efficiency
- Balanced Approach Operation
- Adaptive Cycle Time
- Reduced Queue Lengths
- Environmental Benefits
- Fault-Tolerant & Robust Operation
- Better Performance Than Standard VA
New signals Stage/Phase control:
In summary, the signals will operate as a three-stage, five-phase junction. It should be noted that the pedestrian phase within Stage 3 will only operate on demand. This functionality is supported by kerbside detection, which helps to prevent false pedestrian calls and therefore supports optimal traffic flow at all times.
Upgrade of sites pedestrian facilities:
As part of the signal refurbishment works, advanced pedestrian detection will be introduced. This includes kerbside and on-crossing detection, which enhance pedestrian crossings by making them safer, smarter, and more efficient. These systems ensure that pedestrian demand is met while minimising unnecessary delays to vehicular traffic. (Key points listed below).
- Demand-Responsive Operation
- Reduction in False Calls
- Improved Traffic Flow
- Adaptive Crossing Time
- Enhanced Safety
- Balanced Network Performance
- Environmental Benefits
Addition of live data CCTV for traffic flow monitoring:
As part of the signal refurbishment works, GCC will be installing live-data CCTV cameras to support traffic flow monitoring at the location. It should be noted that these cameras provide live streaming only, with no recording capability, and cannot be used for enforcement purposes.
Addition of signals Remote Monitoring facilities:
As part of the signal refurbishment works, remote monitoring (RM) facilities will be installed within the controller. These systems provide proactive, real-time management of traffic signal assets, improving reliability, safety, and operational efficiency, while supporting smarter maintenance and enhanced network performance.
