Major traffic signalling upgrade completed in Manchester

Siemens has completed the UK’s biggest traffic signalling upgrade after replacing a total of 52,000 traditional traffic signal bulbs with longer-lasting and energy saving LED lights in Manchester.

The upgrade programme has been carried out across more than 1,800 sites and has reduced monthly energy usage from 1,000,000 KW/hr in March 2012 to 480,000 KW/hr in February 2014, resulting in energy savings of £750,000 and maintenance savings in excess of £300,000.

The new traffic lights also benefit the environment through being a more durable alternative to traditional bulbs, with the new LED lights only needing to be replaced every seven years on average, saving around 30,000 standard bulbs per year.

Councillor Andrew Fender (pictured left), chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) committee, said: ‘This is another significant step towards a greener, more energy efficient transport network. The new LED lights come with less maintenance and lower running costs, and the money saved can be invested into other important transport projects and services that will keep Greater Manchester moving in the right direction.”

The traffic signal upgrade programme has taken two years to complete and is part of a 15-year maintenance contract with TfGM.

Pictured from left to right: Cllr Andrew Fender - chairman of TfGM committee; Paul Lee - Siemens north west account manager; and Peter Heath - TfGM senior engineer for traffic control.