Thumbs-up for M6 lights
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• Britain's first motorway slip road traffic lights have so far proved a success at relieving traffic congestion on the MG, the Department of Transport says.
In fact, the DTp expects that the £200,000 investment in the system will be saved within a year by industry and motorists through reduced delays.
The traffic Lights were first introduced a week ago on the southbound slip road which joins the M6 at Junction 10 at Wolverhampton.
Each morning, when detector loop road sensors record a peak of around 6,000 vehicles an hour on the motorway, a central computer switches the traffic lights to red. The lights then allow traffic to join the motorway in batches. On the lights' first morning, DTp regional controller Alan Whitfield said: "It's really impressive. Normally at this time you can expect a 4.5 mile tailback up the M6 from Junction 10."
The system is on a sixmonth trial, and the DTp is still slightly cautious and calling the successes so far "early days".
If it works well, the system could be installed nearer Birmingham at Perry Bar, Junction seven, and elsewhere.
The system is known as ramp metering, and is common in the USA and some European countries.
['Computerised motorway control and a signalling system should be installed on the M25 as soon as possible, says the Freight Transport Association.