Thanks to £631,000 from the Government’s Department for Transport, we have started to upgrade Nottingham’s traffic signals to energy-efficient LED lights instead of halogen lamps. The council will use the funding to boost reliability and reduce faults to provide a safer experience for motorists as well as longer-term maintenance savings.

So far 40 sites have been upgraded across the city. By next spring, approximately 60 junctions and 70 crossings will be kitted out with new equipment across all areas of the city. Over 50% of traffic lights are already upgraded to the new LED style.

The main advantages of LEDs over halogen lamps are that they generate the same light output with considerably less energy usage and a greatly extended lifespan. Halogen lamps last for approximately 1000 – 2000 hours whereas LED lamps can last up to 80,000 hours, which is a significant upgrade. Due to the longer life spans of the LEDs, there will be a reduced level of lamp failures which will help ensure clarity for motorists when approaching signals. Replacing the lights with LEDs will also provide cost savings to the council due to the reduced energy required.

In 2022 Nottingham City Council secured a grant for £7m from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund to upgrade street lights in all the city’s wards with new, energy-efficient LEDs. As part of this ambitious project, subway lighting and signage lights were also upgraded. LEDs were installed ward by ward until they were all completed in March 2024.