Highways Bulletin April 7

Published on: 7 Apr, 2025
Updated on: 7 Apr, 2025

The information for this bulletin comes from Surrey County Council and is written by them.

Report potholes and highway issues here.

Further information on Guildford Borough Council’s Ash Road Bridge works is available on the council’s dedicated webpage.

Brighter, Greener Streets: Surrey’s LED Upgrade

We have finished upgrading 89,000 streetlights to energy-saving LED technology! This project, which started in 2020, is a huge step toward making our streets safer, brighter, and more environmentally friendly.

What This Means for You

Better Visibility & Safety – LED streetlights provide clearer, brighter lighting, making roads and pathways safer for everyone – whether you’re walking, cycling, or driving.
Less Light Pollution – The new lights focus on roads and pavements, reducing unwanted glare into homes and gardens.
Lower Energy Use & Carbon Emissions – LEDs use up to 40% less energy than older streetlights and last much longer, helping to cut down on waste and pollution.
Cost Savings for the County – The upgrade is expected to save 16 million kilowatt-hours of energy, reducing operating costs.

To reduce waste, 65,000 existing streetlights were fitted with an innovative upgrade, avoiding unnecessary replacements. For older lights that couldn’t be upgraded, materials were carefully recycled instead of being thrown away.

To save even more energy, streetlights on quieter roads now switch off between 1 am and 5 am. This change helps reduce costs while keeping main roads well-lit for safety.

This project is part of Surrey’s commitment to a greener future, making sure our communities have reliable, efficient, and environmentally friendly lighting for years to come.

Matt Furniss, Cabinet member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said, “I am delighted that our major investment in converting all 89,000 of Surrey’s street lights to energy-efficient LEDs is now complete. This was part of our commitment to reduce our energy consumption to support the council’s 2050 net zero target and also to reduce costs to benefit taxpayers.

“By converting to LED, we will use around 65% less energy, which will save millions of pounds every year, while also reducing carbon emissions.”

For more info on our LED lighting scheme – LED street lighting – Surrey County Council