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 started our biggest-ever programme to replace older street lamps 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 install more than 3,200 LED lights in the East and West Midlands by the end of March 2023. By March 2027, we will have retrofitted most of the lighting in the region, reducing energy consumption by up to 65%.
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 also more efficient, 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
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- 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
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- Using the data from our surveys, we create the best possible design for the new lighting system.
- Installation and commissioning
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- 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 keep workers and road users safe, we sometimes need to close the entire road. When this happens, clearly signed diversion routes will be provided to guide you.
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:
A14 between junction 3 and 7 and junction 10 - 30 September to 11 November 2024
We're upgrading the current lighting to LEDs on the A14 between junction 3 and 7 and junction 10.
We’ll work overnight (8pm and 5am), Monday to Friday, between 30 September 2024 to 11 November 2024.
To work safely, we’ll use a combination of full and single lane closures.
Closures
8pm 30 September 2024 to 5am 2 October 2024
Junction 3 eastbound full closure and eastbound entry slip.
8pm 2 October 2024 to 5am 5 October 2024
Junction 4 eastbound full closure and eastbound entry slip.
8pm 7 October 2024 to 5am 10 October 2024
Junction 5 eastbound full closure and eastbound entry and exit slip.
8pm 10 October 2024 to 5am 16 October 2024
Junction 6 eastbound full closure and eastbound entry slip.
8pm 16 October 2024 to 5am on 19 October 2024
Junction 7 eastbound full closure and eastbound entry slip.
8pm 21 October 2024 to 5am 22 October 2024
Junction 7 westbound full closure and westbound entry slip.
8pm 22 October 2024 to 5am 23 October 2024
Junction 6 and 5 westbound full closures and westbound entry and exit slips.
8pm 23 October to 2024 5am 24 October 2024
Junction 4 westbound full closure and westbound entry and exit slips.
8pm 24 October 2024 to 5am 29 October 2024
Junction 3 westbound full closure and westbound entry and exit slip.
8pm on 31 October 2024 5am on 8 November 2024
Junction 10 eastbound full closure and eastbound entry and exit slips.
8pm on 8 November 2024 5am on 11 November 2024
Junction 10 westbound full closure and entry and exit slips
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.
Diversions
We'll put fully signed diversion in place.
Diversion map for works from 30 September to 11 October 2024.
We’ll give more information about future diversions as the scheme progresses.
We'll maintain access for emergency service vehicles will throughout.
We’ll make every effort to ensure the impact on the local community and travelling public is kept to a minimum.
A43 LED upgrades - 25 November to 14 December 2024
We’ll be upgrading the current lighting to LEDs along the A43. The new LED lighting will be more energy efficient and require less maintenance in the future.
We’ll work overnight Monday to Fridays, starting on Monday 25 November 2024.
To maintain safety, our programme will include the below closures and diversions.
M1 J15a southbound exit slip closed - Monday 25 November - 8pm to Tuesday 26 November - 5am
Shell Garage exit road to M1 and roundabout closed, A43 westbound approach to Swan Valley roundabout closed. Tuesday 26 November - 8pm to Wednesday 27 November - 5am
A43 eastbound approach to A5123 roundabout carriageway closure Wednesday 27 November – 8pm to Thursday 28 November - 5am
A43 westbound full closure to BP exit road including services roundabout Friday 29 November – 8pm to Saturday 30 November - 5am
A43 westbound and eastbound approach and exit at Towcester roundabout plus lane closures Monday 2 December – 8pm to Tuesday 3 December - 5am
Silverstone slip closures Friday 6 December – 8pm to Wednesday 11 December - 5am
B4525 Interchange closures Wednesday 11 December – 8pm to Saturday 14 December – 5am
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.
Diversions
During closures, fully signed diversion routes will be in place as below.
Wednesday 27 November diversion
Access to frontages and emergency service vehicles will be maintained where possible.
A45 LED upgrades - 14 October 2024 to 14 January 2025
We're continuing to upgrade the current lighting to LEDs on the A45 between Brackmills and Raunds.
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 5am, Monday to Saturday, between 14 October 2024 to 23 January 2025. This is our second update covering 25 November to 17 December and we’ll provide monthly updates throughout the scheme.
In order to carry out this work safely, we’ll work under a combination of full and single lane closures.
Closures
Eastbound carriageway closure – BP Garage to Chester Road
Monday 25 November to Wednesday 27 November
Eastbound carriageway closure – Chester Road to Rushden Lakes roundabout plus lane closure in opposite direction
Wednesday 27 November to Friday 6 December
Westbound carriageway closure – Rushden Lakes roundabout to Little Irchester junction
Friday 6 December to Tuesday 10 December
Westbound carriageway closure – Chester Road to BP garage
Tuesday 10 December to Thursday 12 December
Westbound carriageway closure & Little Irchester junction - entry and exit closed
Thursday 12 December to Tuesday 17 December
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 website. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.
A45 Tollbar End – 26 September to 2 October 2024
We’ll be upgrading the current lighting to LEDs around the A45 Tollbar End. The new LED lighting will be more energy efficient and require less maintenance in the future.
To carry out our work safely we’ll work overnight, between 8pm and 5am, from Thursday 26 September to Wednesday 2 October 2024. During our planned programme of work, the following traffic management and diversion routes will be installed:
Thursday 26 September – Lane one closure of the A46 westbound leading to a total closure of the Tollbar End roundabout exit slip.
Friday 27 September – Lane two closure of the A46 westbound leading to a total closure of the A45 between the exit and entry slip at Tollbar End.
Monday 30 September – Lane closures along the A444 southbound and on Festival Island, leading to a total closure of A45 eastbound Tollbar Island entry slip.
Tuesday 1 October – Total westbound carriageway closure at Tollbar.
Wednesday 2 October – Total closure of the A45 westbound Tollbar End roundabout entry slip.
We’ll make every effort to ensure the impact on the local community and travelling public is kept to a minimum.
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. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.
A52 between Tithby Road and Grantham Road - 17 September to 24 September 2024
As part of our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint, we’ll be upgrading the current lighting to LEDs on the A52, between Tithby Road and Grantham Road. The new LED lighting will be more energy efficient and require less maintenance in the future.
Work Schedule:
- Start Date: Thursday 12 September
- End Date: Tuesday 24 September
- Time: 8pm - 6am on weeknights only
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Closures
- A52 between Saxondale (A46 Bingham Interchange) and the A1 at Barrowby
- [View eastbound diversion route map]
- [View westbound diversion route map]
Closures can change at short notice. Make sure you check the latest information on our daily closures page. You can also get information on our regional X (formerly Twitter) page.
Please follow the signed diversions and allow extra time for your journeys.
Documents
Traffic information
Information about scheduled roadworks and events on our motorways and major roads.X
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