Intelligent lights for busy roads

High-tech "intelligent" traffic lights costing £2.2m are to be put up on two busy roads in Cheshire in a bid to ease congestion and improve safety.

The two projects, one on the A556 near the Swan Hotel, Knutsford, the other at Bowdon roundabout near junction 7 of the M56, start on 8 January.

The new technology electronically assesses the number of vehicles on the road to regulate the flow of traffic.

The Highways Agency expects the works to be completed by the end of March.

Reduce queuing

Paul Elliot, Highways Agency Project Manager, said: "The new intelligent traffic signals at both sites will help keep traffic flowing and significantly reduce congestion on the A556.

"It will also improve safety for drivers turning right at the Bucklow Hill junction."

At Bowdon roundabout the new lights are expected to reduce queuing on the road, which leads onto the M56.

Work will be carried out overnight and occasional closures of the M56 slip roads which may be required will be publicised at a later date.

In order to minimise disruption to drivers, the road surface will also be re-laid as part of the project.