Durham County Council has announced plans to install a £2.5m SCOOT (Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique) system that will improve traffic flow on the main route through Durham city.
SCOOT is an adaptive system that responds automatically to fluctuations in traffic flow through on-street detectors embedded in the road.
Major works to install the system will start form the end of the month and will see traffic lights installed on the Gilesgate and Leazes Bowl roundabouts during 2016.
Going with the flow: Durham to help cars SCOOT along
These will then be coordinated with those already in place on the Milburngate roundabout to better manage the flow of vehicles through the city.
The system should be up and running in 2017.
Cllr Neil Foster, cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: ‘Once installed the SCOOT system should make journeys easier for everyone travelling to or via Durham City, improve the reliability of public transport services and have a positive impact on air quality for local residents. Although we’re working hard to minimise the impact on motorists we’d like to thank everyone for their patience for any disruption while this is carried out.’
The project will also see improvements to pedestrian and cycle facilities on both roundabouts.
Elsewhere, SWARCO Traffic, the traffic management solutions business, has launched a new range of Mini-Signals for those looking to install street-level sings for bicycle lanes.
The signs are already being installed on London’s Cycle Superhighway routes and are generally used to give cyclists a head start at junctions so they can get ahead of traffic turning left, a tricky manoeuvre linked with recent fatalities.
