New LED Traffic Lights On Trial At A3 Interchange Near Guildford Business Park

Published on: 21 Mar, 2018
Updated on: 21 Mar, 2018

The traffic lights on trial seen next to the existing ones. Picture: Will Parsons

By Will Parsons

New ‘smart’ traffic signals are being trialled at the locally named ‘A3 Dennis interchange’, near the Guildford Business Park, with the aim of improving traffic flow.

The existing lights have been switched off while the LED lights are on trial. Picture: Will Parsons.

The experiment, being carried out by Highways England, is the first non-motorway trial for new traffic signals in the UK.

An engineer at work while the trial commences. Picture: David Rose.

The junction, also sometimes called the Wooden Bridge roundabout, which lies south of Woodbridge Hill and west of Ladymead, serves as a major interchange for traffic joining and leaving the A3, and for traffic on the A25 and A322 travelling through Guildford. The new traffic signals use energy efficient LED lights, and are designed to monitor traffic flow and adjust their timings accordingly.

While the work takes place, a series of overnight road closures are being implemented, along with other improvement work by Highways England. The A3 southbound is closed between the Stoke interchange and the Guildford Cathedral / University of Surrey interchange between 10pm and 6am until April 26.

The experimental lights are secured by concrete blocks painted yellow. Picture: David Rose.

During the closures, clearly signed diversions will be in place to direct standard and heavy goods vehicles. Road users should contact Highways England on 0300 123 5000 if they have any questions about the trial of new signals, road closures or diversions.

David Rose adds….

Britain’s first traffic lights were installed outside the Houses of Parliament in 1868, based on railway semaphore signals. Modern traffic lights were first developed in the USA with red-green systems installed in Cleveland in 1914.

The first coloured light traffic signals in Britain were installed in 1925 in London. They were operated by a policeman using switches.

Automatic signals, working on a time interval, were first installed in Wolverhampton in 1926.

Moreover, this is not the first time that experiments linked to traffic and highways improvements have taken place in Guildford.

An example road sign that features the colour-coded system known as the Guildford Rules.

Rather importantly, in an effort to reduce the clutter of road signs back in the 1980s, Guildford was used as an experiment in which versions of new signs were tried out.

From it, a colour-coded system was developed to indicate information pertaining to different categories of route on a single sign.

The system is officially known as the Guildford Rules.

For anyone keen on some bedtime reading about facts, figures and more all about Britain’s roads, click here for a website called CBRD. The name is explained if you also click on the ‘About’ tab on it.

Responses to New LED Traffic Lights On Trial At A3 Interchange Near Guildford Business Park

JIm Allen Reply

March 21, 2018 at 1:16 pm

We still don’t know what is ‘smart’ about these LED lights.

What do they do which other lights don’t do? Stay green longer? change quicker? block cars going to the A3 when it is blocked?

If they are as smart as the motorways then it means increased danger for the motorists.
David Scotland Reply

March 21, 2018 at 4:08 pm

It’s about time, but I find it quite funny they have installed self-adjusting lights.

The reason is, I have it on very good authority that all the lights in Surrey are between 10 and 15 years out of date with traffic surveys.

Surrey County Council conduct the surveys and model the new traffic conditions, but have not updated signals for years, which is why we are all stuck in endless traffic because the lights are set to the wrong amount of traffic flow.

Perhaps The Dragon could approach SCC for comment?
Brian Holt Reply

March 21, 2018 at 5:18 pm

I have just driven through one set of the new traffic lights, they are bright and clearer and can be seen easier by drivers.
Peter Shaw Reply

March 22, 2018 at 3:15 pm

I hope these trials go well. Good luck Highways England.
John Robinson Reply

March 23, 2018 at 7:48 am

All they need to do now is put back the cameras at the main crossing on Ladymead at the retail park (where B & Q, etc are). Every evening, after their lights have turned red, I see drivers pushing through that junction heading toward the A3 at Dennis’ roundabout. It’s not just one or two drivers. Last night I counted five come through, while I had to wait at a green light to avoid a collision.

I’ve raised this with Surrey Police and SCC several times, but their attitude is always, “Well, no one has been hurt in an accident at those lights, so we don’t need to make any changes.” The fact that these drivers are breaking the law doesn’t seem to matter. I guess when someone is hurt or worse, Surrey Police & SCC will release a statement about “lessons being learned”, but it will be too late then, both for any casualties and their families.
Martin Elliott Reply

March 24, 2018 at 1:10 pm

Just out of interest, has anybody ever seen the ‘peak flow’ traffic lights at the ‘University’ round about switched on?

Who controls them, Surrey County Council or Highways England and what criteria is applied?

Will they be intelligently linked to these new lights doing something at Wooden Bridge roundabout. Oh sorry, “Dennis RA” or “Guildford Business Park RA”. No wonder traffic broadcasts are confused if a junction has three different names.