AI-Powered Tech Slashes Traffic Jams, Saving Drivers Months of Wait Time!

Drivers in the Tees Valley area are spending much less time waiting in traffic, thanks to a new smart road technology project that uses Artificial Intelligence, or AI. This project, led by the Tees Valley Combined Authority, has been put in place at several busy junctions, including the A135/A66 junction near the South Stockton Bypass and the A174 Parkway junction on Thornaby Road. Over the past year, the technology has helped drivers save a total of 5,000 hours at six major traffic hotspots.

The system works by collecting live traffic data and creating a digital twin, which is a virtual copy of the road network. This digital twin allows the AI to predict where traffic jams are likely to happen. When the system sees that a traffic jam might occur, it can automatically adjust the traffic lights to keep cars moving smoothly. For example, at the A174 Parkway junction, the technology helped reduce delays by 2,780 hours over twelve months. Other areas, like Norton Road in Stockton and Hart Lane in Hartlepool, also saw hundreds of hours saved.

The smart road system is now operating at 57 different sites and controls 196 traffic signals across Teesside, Darlington, and Hartlepool. Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said these improvements are making a real difference for drivers. He explained, 'These are real, measurable results - the equivalent of more than six months of waiting time wiped away. ' The FUSION scheme, which is part of a larger Digital Twin transport project, cost more than two million pounds. By simulating real-world traffic conditions in real time, the system gives traffic operators the tools they need to keep traffic moving and reduce frustration for drivers. This means people can get to their destinations faster and spend less time stuck in traffic jams.