Overview
In a first for our operations in Ireland, Urban64, our intelligent temporary traffic light solution, was successfully deployed in Cork city centre. The project, led by Cork City Council, in partnership with contractor, Infratech, required an adaptable, reliable and intelligent solution to ensure heavy traffic volumes were kept flowing while existing signals were being replaced.
The Challenge
The junction in question is a densely populated area outside the Cork University Hospital and opposite a major city centre shopping centre. It is common for the junction to receive heavy volumes of traffic between 06:30 AM through to 6:30 PM most days, with a continuous stream of vehicles that continues at night.
The permanent equipment was being upgraded as part of the council’s signal refurbishment scheme. As part of the renovation, new poles and heads were to be placed in new locations, there would be new staging alterations and there was the requirement to use the existing infrastructure for as long as possible before switching to Urban64.
Conventional portable traffic lights or Stop/Go manual systems were unfeasible options due to the complexity of the junction. The objective was to utilise an intelligent temporary traffic system that could precisely replicate current signal operation and phasing, including dedicated filter arrows and coordinated walk-with-traffic cycles.
It was also important to accommodate Ireland’s distinctive traffic signal sequencing and to be fully compliant with standards.
The Solution
SRL’s Urban64 intelligent temporary traffic solutions was discovered to be the sole viable system capable of satisfying the project’s requirements. It promised minimal disruption to the public and provided an efficient way to test out new timings and optimisations that could be rolled out to the permanent signals once the refurbishment was completed.
Urban64 was deployed for a two-week period and was made up of 16 traffic signals and 16 pedestrian signals featuring directional arrows and walk-with-traffic capabilities to ensure the junction was kept moving.
Urban64 was configured to Irish signal standards, including eliminating blackout periods, no amber lights (going straight from red to green) and flashing green pedestrian signals
It was also noted that the reliability of using mains power for operation and the quick installation and commissioning method provided great benefit to the site ensuring there was minimal disruption throughout the scheme, with teams impressed by how easy the system was to deploy and the system performance.
The Result
The effective deployment of Urban64 in Cork city proved its capability to deliver an adaptable and intelligent temporary traffic signal solution suitable for high-traffic urban areas.
Despite the intricate junction design and staging changes, road users and pedestrians benefited from a seamless transition. The system delivered minimum disruption to the usual pattern of road users, hospital activities, and neighbouring businesses.
This large-scale yet quick deployment, showcases the true power of Urban64 as it helped facilitate junction renovations while conforming to local operational standards. A tried-and-tested alternative to traditional temporary signals, Urban64 is establishing a new standard for roadworks schemes throughout Ireland.
As a first-in-Ireland for our Urban64 deployment, this launch ushers in a new era for intelligent temporary traffic solutions for road working projects throughout Ireland.
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