Midlands LED roadside lighting upgrades
We’re cutting carbon emissions in the Midlands by switching to cleaner LED lights, making our motorways and A-roads greener and more energy efficient.
We've moved into year 3 of our biggest-ever programme to replace older streetlamps with LED lights that use far less energy to produce the same amount of light.
The £132m investment programme aims to reduce carbon emissions by retrofitting existing, older lighting, taking the amount of environmentally friendly LED lights across the Strategic Road Network (SRN) to at least 70% by March 2027.
What are we doing in the Midlands?
We plan to upgrade a further 7000 LED lanterns in the Midlands by the end of March 2026. By March 2027, we'll have retrofitted most of the lighting in the region, reducing energy consumption by up to 65%. We’ve already upgraded over 70% of our lighting assets within the Midlands.
The new LEDs also last longer, meaning less maintenance and fewer replacements on our network, minimising the disruption to our customers and local communities. They're more efficient, remotely monitored, can be dimmed, concentrate light where needed, and require less maintenance.
The programme forms part of National Highways’ Net zero highways plan to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2030, which also includes buying renewable electricity, decarbonizing travel, and planting trees. Watch the video below to find out more.
How are we working?
We’ve divided this project into a number of schemes across the region, each with three key stages:
Survey and assessment
Our team visits the road to carry out structural and electrical tests on the current lighting, including columns and wiring.
To ensure safety and efficiency, we may have to do this under lane, carriageway or full closures depending on location and the nature of the work.
Design
Using the data from our surveys, we create the best possible design for the new lighting system.
Installation and commissioning
Three or four months after the initial survey, we begin installing new lights on the road.
To work safely at height, we typically close two lanes. One lane is for our vehicle, and the other is used as a precautionary safety lane to act as a buffer between our workforce and passing traffic.
We check each installation along the way. Once we’ve replaced the lighting, we conduct a final test before removing the traffic management.
To work safely, we sometimes need to close the entire road. When this happens, we'll provide clearly signed diversion routes.
We’ll try to minimise the impact of our work on the local community and drivers. Unforeseen circumstances may mean we need to change our plans. If we need more time to do out work, we'll update details on this page.
Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England site. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.
By following these steps for every scheme, we’re making sure the new lighting system lasts longer, reduces carbon emissions, and saves energy. You can view more about the schemes currently in progress below.
Where can I find out more information?
You can find out more information about our national LED lighting programme on our LED lighting programme.
Project information
View an LED lighting scheme
You can view more details about LED lighting schemes taking place in the Midlands below:
A46 LED survey work – 16 June to 3 July 2025
We're surveying the A46 between Cattle Market Roundabout to Anstey for LED lighting upgrade.
We’ll work overnight (8pm - 6am) Monday to Friday.
Closures
To work safely, we’ll use a mixture of full closures and lane closures.
Tuesday 24 June - Melton Road junction - A46 northbound exit slip
Closed.
Wednesday 24 June - Melton Road junction - A46 southbound entry slip
Closed.
Thursday 26 June for 2 nights - Shell garage past Seagrave Road
Lane 2 closed in both directions
Monday 30 June - Seagrave Road exit and entry slips
Slips and lane 1 southbound closed
Tuesday 1 July - Park Hill Lane exit and entry slips
Slips and lane 1 northbound closed
Wednesday 2 July - Ratcliffe Road junction - Northbound exit slip
Slip and lane 1 main carriageway closed.
Thursday 3 July - Syston Road Roundabout - Northbound exit slip
Slip closed
During closures, fully signed diversions will be in place.
We'll maintain access for emergency service vehicles throughout.
A46 LED surveys between M5 Junction 9 and A46 Tollbar End roundabout - 6 August to 12 September 2025
We'll need these overnight (9pm - 6am) Monday to Friday closures while we perform surveys:
Wednesday 6 to Thursday 7 August - A46 Four Pools roundabout
Lane closures on A46 from all directions on approach to Four Pools Roundabout
Thursday 7 to Friday 8 August - B4035 Roundabout
Lane closures on A46 southbound and westbound on approach to B4035 roundabout.
Friday 8 to Saturday 9 August - A46 Salford Priors Roundabout
Lane closures on A46 northbound and southbound including:
- B439 eastbound
- westbound Sutton Road on approach to roundabout.
Monday 11 to Tuesday 12 August - A46 Oversley Mill Roundabout
Lane closures north, south and westbound A46 on approach to Oversley Mill roundabout.
Monday 8 to Tuesday 9 September - M5 Junction 9
- M5 north and southbound lane closure from hard shoulder up to exit slip and roundabout
- A438 eastbound lane closure on approach to roundabout
- A46 westbound lane closure on approach to junction 9 roundabout
Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 September - A46 NB Festival Island
- A46 northbound lane closure over Festival Island
- full closure of Tollbar End carriageway and northbound entry slip
- A46 southbound lane closure towards Tollbar End
Thursday 11 to Friday 12 September - A46 southbound carriageway towards Tollbar End roundabout
Southbound carriageway fully closed as well as entry and exit slip Binley Woods service area.
We'll maintain access for emergency services.
Diversion
A46 between M5 junction 9 and Tollbar End roundabout diversion map.
Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England site. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.
A50 LED survey work – 16 June to mid-July 2025
We're surveying the A50 between junction 1 and the M1 junction 24a for LED lighting upgrade.
We'll work overnight (8pm - 6am) Monday to Friday.
Closures
To work safely, we’ll use a mixture of full closures and lane closures.
Monday 16 June for 2 nights - A50 junction 1
Eastbound lanes 2 and 3 closed. Westbound lane 3 closed
Wednesday 18 June for 5 nights - A50 junction 1
Eastbound entry slip closed at Sawley junction. Lane 1 of main carriageway closed to the railway bridge.
Wednesday 25 June for 3 nights - A50 junction 1
Outer ring management lanes 1 and 2. Lane 2 closed on entry slips
Fully signed diversions will be in place during closures.
We'll maintain access for emergency services vehicles throughout.
A449 LED upgrade works - 20 August to 11 September 2025
We're carrying out survey work to plan new Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting on the A449 and Gailey Island.
The new LED lights will:
- use less energy
- need less maintenance
- be better for the environment
This upgrade will improve the lighting while reducing costs and our environmental impact.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the start date of our work has been delayed.
Our work will now commence from 20 August to 11 September 2025. We’ll work overnight between 9pm and 6am, Monday to Friday.
To carry out our work safely, we’ll work under a combination of phased full closures, lane closures and temporary traffic lights as below:
20 August
A449 northbound lane closure leading to a total closure of M54 westbound entry slip road.
28 August
A5 westbound 2-way temporary traffic lights before Gailey Roundabout leading traffic eastbound to westbound.
28 and 29 August
A449 southbound lane 1 closure after Rodbaston Farm Road to Gailey roundabout.
29 August
A5 Eastbound total closure from Gailey roundabout.
1 September
A5 eastbound and A449 northbound lane 1 closure on approach to Gailey roundabout.
4 and 5 September
A449 northbound lane 2 closure after School Lane junction leading to a total closure at Fur Ashes Road including Gravely Lane junction.
4 to 11 September
A449 southbound lane 1 closure after Rodbaston Farm Road to Gailey roundabout continuing as lane 2 closure to Four Ashes/Station Road junction.
4 to 11 September
A5 eastbound and westbound lane 1 closure prior to Gailey roundabout.
Diversions
During our works fully signed diversion routes will be in place where required and have been agreed with the local authority to minimise disruption to the travelling public and local residents.
A5 eastbound total closure from Gailey roundabout non-motorway diversion route
A5 eastbound total closure from Gailey roundabout motorway diversion route
A449 Four Ashes to Gailey non-motorway diversion route
A449 Four Ashes to Gailey motorway diversion route
Access for emergency service vehicles will be maintained throughout.
We’ll make every effort to ensure the impact on the local community and travelling public is kept to a minimum.
We always aim to work to the programme, however unforeseen circumstances or adverse weather conditions may mean changes.
Please accept our apologies in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.
A52 LED surveys - 20 June to mid-October 2025
We'll be carrying out surveys as part of our plans to upgrade the roadside lighting to LEDs on the A52 between Spondon and Barrowby. The new LED lighting will be more energy efficient and require less maintenance in the future.
When will this work take place?
We’ll work overnight, between 8pm and 6am, Monday to Friday, between 30 June 2025 to mid-October 2025.
To complete our work safely and reduce disruption, most of our work will be carried out under lane closures. Our traffic management will be installed over small sections, and our work will progress along the A52.
There may be times when we need to close the road, but we’ll provide further updates at the earliest opportunity.
We’ll make every effort to ensure the impact on the local community and travelling public is kept to a minimum.
We always aim to work to the programme; however, unforeseen circumstances or adverse weather conditions may mean changes.
M6/M54 LED survey works - 30 June to 1 October 2025
We're surveying the M6 and M54 for LED lighting upgrade.
We’ll work overnight (9pm and 6am) Monday to Friday.
Closures
To work safely, we’ll use a mixture of full closures, lane closures and temporary traffic lights.
Monday 30 June to Tuesday 1 July - M54 Ketley Dingle Interchange – junction 6
Lane closures on the entry and exit slips in both directions
Weds 2 July to Thursday 3 July - M54 junction 5
Lane closures on the eastbound entry and exit slips.
Friday 4 July to Monday 7 July - M54 junction 5
Lane closures on the westbound entry and exit slips.
Tuesday 8 July to Weds 9 July - M54 Castle Farm Interchange – junction 4
Lane closures on the entry and exit slips in both directions.
Thursday 10 July to Friday 11 July - M54 junction 3 to A41
Lane closures on the entry and exit slips in both directions and A41 Tong Interchange.
Monday 14 July to Weds 16 July - M54 junction 3 to A41
Lane closures on the roundabout.
Thursday 17 July to Thursday 24 July - M6 junction 8-7
Lane closures. Fully signed diversions will be in place during closures. We'll maintain access for emergency service vehicles throughout.
We'll give you details of further works and closures closer to the time.
Documents
Traffic information
Information about scheduled roadworks and events on our motorways and major roads.Sign up for updates!
Keep up to date with what's happening on this scheme by signing up to our updates.
