Highways Agency Carbon Saving Scheme to be extended
Motorway lighting will be permanently switched off at three carefully selected sites in the North West to reduce carbon emissions and light pollution,the Highways Agency has announced.
The stretches of motorway have a good safety record and following careful assessment, analysis shows that the lights can be switched off without increasing risks to road user safety.
Under a revised standard for lighting on England’s motorways and major A roads introduced in 2007, lights would not be installed at these sites if the existing lighting was due to be replaced – or if the sites were opening as new.
Lighting at the following three locations will be switched off from 29th March 2011:
• On the M58 between Skelmersdale Junction 4 to Orrell Junction 6 (approximately 3.8 miles);
• On the M65 between Dunkenhalgh Park Junction 7 to Burnley Junction 10 (approximately 5.5 miles); and
• On the M66 between Walmersley Junction 1 to Simister Roundabout Junction 4 (approximately 6.6 miles).
The motorway junctions and their approaches will remain lit.
Derek Turner, Director for the Highways Agency, said:
“Since 2009 we’ve switched lighting off between the hours of Midnight and 5am on 13 carefully selected stretches of motorways and evidence so far indicates that switching off the lights hasn’t had an impact on safety. Analysis also suggests that driver behaviour does not appear to have been affected in terms of traffic volumes and speed.
“We are confident we can now begin to permanently switch off motorway lights at certain sites. This is not about wishing to remove all lights from the motorway network. It’s about carefully identifying the locations where, under the revised guidelines, we would not consider installing lighting. The money saved could then be used elsewhere on the Strategic Road Network where it would have a more significant safety benefit and potentially save more lives.
“We anticipate achieving an annual reduction in carbon emissions on these three stretches of about 1000 tonnes. Local communities will also benefit from reduced light pollution of the night sky.”
The Highways Agency has spoken to emergency services and other stakeholders to ensure they are aware of the switch-off.
Potential future sites for permanent switch off will continue to be assessed.
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