Motorway lights turned off 'to reduce carbon footprint'

Date: 20/7/2010

The Highways Agency has announced it will switch off motorway lighting along a section of the M6 in order to reduce carbon emissions.

Starting tomorrow (July 21st), the lights will be turned off every night from 00:00 BST until 05:00 BST, between junctions 27 at Standish and 29 at Lostock Hall.

The organisation said it has carefully assessed this stretch of carriageway and it has a light flow of traffic between the hours of the planned switch-offs.

Area Performance Manager for South Lancashire Andy Withington noted this is the seventh area to be included in the initiative.

"We expect it to work as successfully as everywhere else - achieving up to a 40 per cent saving in carbon emissions and energy use as well as giving local communities reduced light pollution of the night sky," he added.

Meanwhile, the body has announced motorists in Lancashire and Cumbria will get improved bad weather warnings.

Variable electronic message signs will be installed along the M6 and these will be linked to devices such as wind-measuring equipment, which will trigger the signs if the weather changes.

Posted by Nick Anderson