An End to Traffic Lights

---

More junctions could have lights removed

Ealing Counci may remove more traffic lights across the borough in a bid to ease congestion.

The council has identified five busy junctions where traffic lights appear to add to delays and work will be undertaken to improve traffic flow at each site. In addition, two sets of lights are to be permanently removed after a successful pilot.

The council say the work should have a significant impact on congestion and smooth the flow of traffic on Ealing’s roads, without effecting safety of road users or pedestrians.

In 2009 traffic lights were covered up at two junctions in an experimental trial. The two junctions at Gunnersbury Lane junction with Bollo Lane in Acton and Wester Road junction with Featherstone Road in Southall were well-known congestion hot-spots. Eight months later the results were positive – the volume of traffic through both the junctions had increased but the average queue length had decreased by two-thirds. Pedestrian waiting times reduced by half and although traffic speeds had increased it was only by 2% and no accidents were recorded.

The council say the vast majority of residents and businesses located close to the junctions supported the trials – 70% at Gunnersburry Lane and 95% at Featherstone Road. Safety was a crucial consideration throughout.

Because of the positive outcome of the pilot the council has decided to permanently remove the lights at both these spots.

The council also approved plans to introduce congestion improvement measures at the following junctions:

• Ealing Green/ The Grove
• GreenfordAvenue/Ruislip Road East
• Coronation Road/Abbey Road
• Popes Lane/Elderberry Road
• Whitton Avenue West/Greenford Road/Whitten Avenue East.

All of these sites had been identified by residents as congestion heavy areas and Transport for London was consulted on the plans.

Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for Transport and Environment, said: “The results of the two pilots have been so positive, it makes perfect sense to remove the lights on a permanent basis and look into the removal of more traffic lights in the borough. We know congestion is a real bug-bear of residents - long traffic queues are incredibly frustrating and harmful to the environment. Now we have identified more sites where we can hopefully reduce long-standing congestion points while maintaining road safety. The work will start next year and I hope residents will notice the difference soon after.”

The decision was made by the council’s Cabinet on Tuesday, 12 October 2010. All cabinet decisions are subject to call-in for a period of five working days from the date of publication of the minutes of the meeting.

October 13th 2010