Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council has begun to deploy road sensors in an effort to improve traffic flows and reduce congestion.
Under a partnership with VivaCity it has installed a network of 65 sensors in the Brierley Hill and Merry Hill Shopping Centre area to help it identify and deal with the causes of congestion, and to assess the impact of any interventions.
Phase one of the project, involving the installation, was carried out late last year, enabling the council to collect data on demand and journey times.
This has laid the ground for phase two, under which it is creating a smart junction, supported by the relocation of a subset of sensors and VivaCity’s Smart Junction data solution, at the intersection of Venture Way and Mill Street.
Data from sensors at the location will be able to optimise signalling during busy periods to improve the journeys for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. The smart junction is scheduled to be in place later this year.
Decision making
The rest of the sensors will remain located around the region to continue data collection across the network to support Dudley Council's further decision making. This will also allow for the impacts of the smart junction trial to be measured.
Dean Hubbard, the council’s project engineer, said: “We understand how frustrating traffic congestion and journey disruptions can be for local residents and visitors, and we hope that our work helps minimise this throughout the region. At a time when we are trying to further develop and revamp the area, VivaCity’s data is crucial in helping optimise travel and safety for all.”
