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
-
- 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 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:
A43 LED upgrades - 25 November to 6 March 2025
We continue to upgrade 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 continue to work overnight Monday to Saturday from 8pm to 5am.
To maintain safety, our program will include the below closures:
A413 Interchange – southbound exit slip closure, single lane closure of the A43 southbound, both A413 roundabouts, A413 closure and A413 bridge closure - Monday 17 February to Tuesday 18 February
Evenley roundabout – southbound approach and exit carriageway closure and ring management at Barley Mow - Tuesday 18 February to Wednesday 19 February
A413 Interchange – southbound exit slip closure, single lane closure of the A43 southbound, both A413 roundabouts, A413 closure and A413 bridge closure - Wednesday 19 February to Thursday 20 February
Evenley roundabout – Broad Lane closed in both directions - Thursday 20 February to Friday 21 February
Evenley roundabout – Charlton road closed in both directions - Friday 21 February to Saturday 22 February
Baynards Green to Padbury – northbound carriageway closure plus lane 2 closure of the southbound carriageway - Monday 24 February to Wednesday 26 February
Padbury roundabout – north and south closures - Wednesday 26 February to Thursday 27 February
Silverstone interchange – southbound carriageway full closure and lane 2 northbound closure – phase 1 - Thursday 27 February to Friday 28 February
Silverstone interchange – southbound carriageway full closure and lane 2 northbound closure – phase 2 - Monday 3 March to Thursday 6 March
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.
Access to frontages and for 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.
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.
