Taken from Wokingham Borough Council’s News Centre.
Traffic levels around Wokingham borough are now being measured to help predict the exact impact of new housing on its road network.
Contractors for Wokingham Borough Council have installed almost 80 temporary video cameras on street furniture at various locations including junctions 10 and 11 of the M4, the B3270 in and around Lower Earley, the A329M and parts of Shinfield, Winnersh and Amen Corner.
These will stay up until the end of the month and will help the council to understand where people are travelling to and from, in turn allowing it to forecast demand more accurately and plan measures to tackle congestion before it becomes a problem.
The work, which also includes the installation of tube loops to measure traffic volumes and speeds, is being carried out in partnership with neighbouring councils and National Highways as part of the borough council’s Local Plan Update.
At a special meeting last week (Friday, 12 November), the authority’s decision-making executive approved a public consultation on a revised growth strategy to meet demand for housing and high-quality services like roads, schools, green space and community and leisure centres until 2038.
Traffic levels around Wokingham borough are now being measured to help predict the exact impact of new housing on its road network.
You may have spotted the new temporary cameras we’ve put up in almost 80 places on roads around Wokingham borough. ? ?
They’ll help us predict the impact of new housing on traffic and fight congestion as we update our local plan. ??️
Find out more at https://t.co/SRAMtrepmL pic.twitter.com/nmOPN4fBXK
— Wokingham Borough (@WokinghamBC) November 17, 2021
Helping us fight congestion
Councillor Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways, said: “This survey will build on work already carried out to ensure we have a detailed understanding of future traffic volumes and travel patterns in specific areas such as road junctions.
“By building a clearer picture of the situation, we will be in an even stronger position to introduce measures to combat congestion and carry on keeping the borough’s traffic moving.”
The council is already rolling out a series of innovative traffic management schemes including the installation of “smart” signals whose timings can be adjusted from a virtual control room according to vehicle flows.
Other improvements will include electronic message signs explaining road works and alternative routes ahead of time and sensors to provide live updates on available parking spaces, which are already operating in our two biggest car parks.
The Local Plan Update: Revised Growth Strategy consultation will run from 22 November to 24 January and includes several in-person and virtual information meetings. To find out more or book a place at a meeting, visit our new Engage platform.
