Hi-tech new system gets green light to help halt traffic chaos
CARS could soon be ‘Scooting’ through traffic-choked Bishopbriggs town centre – if a new hi-tech traffic control system proves successful.
Bishopbriggs Cross is one of the district’s busiest road junctions.
Fed-up motorists regularly complain about queues of traffic forming in the area because of the phasing of the traffic lights.
Now a new SCOOT (Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique) traffic control system is to be installed to help alleviate the problem. The system will link up junctions on Kirkintilloch Road, between Brackenbrae Road and Westerhill Road.
The SCOOT system is scheduled to be in operation by the end of January next year.
Bishopbriggs has one of the worst levels of air pollution in Scotland.
The traffic improvements come as plans for a new Morrisons supermarket in the town centre are being considered.
It’s been claimed the proposals for the new store could bring as many as 30,000 more vehicles into the town centre area every week.
Dominic Notarangelo, chairperson of Bishopbriggs Community Council, said: “If it works, it is a good idea.
“However, the community council has raised concerns about the traffic a number of times and was told that nothing could be done.”
The SCOOT system works by detecting vehicles at the start of each approach to every controlled intersection.
It models the progression of the traffic from the detector through the stopline, taking account of the state of the signals and any consequent queues.
The information from the model is used to optimise the signals to minimise the network.
David Devine, East Dunbartonshire Council’s head of roads and neighbourhood services, said: “We’re carrying out works in Bishopbriggs to install an intelligent traffic control system called SCOOT (Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique).
“Using sensors in the road, the SCOOT system will monitor traffic flow in real time and will relay this information across junctions using wireless communication technology to ease the flow of traffic as it passes through a series of traffic lights.”
* Have you got a story, picture or comment? E-mail kirkyherald@jnscotland.co.uk
Alternatively you can call the newsdesk 0141 775 0040, find us on Facebook or visit us on Twitter
Or you can log in below and have you say on the site...
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Kirkintilloch
Monday 20 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 7 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
