Work is under way to install an Australian-first light system aimed at reducing congestion in the one of country’s busiest tunnels.
The high-tech lighting is being rolled out in Melbourne’s Burnley Tunnel, aming to improve traffic flow by encouraging drivers to keep pace with the speed limit.
The tollway carries traffic eastbound from the West Gate Freeway to the Monash Freeway and runs underneath the Yarra River.
Transurban general manager of operations Phil Naulls said once up and running, green lights will be travelling at 80 km/h.
”As you come in, you see a pulsing piece of green light coming past you at the speed we want you to be driving at,” he said.
“We have sensors which detect average speeds at each location. An algorithm tells the pacemaker how fast to go to get you out of the tunnel at the right speed.”
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It’s taken months to install the $13 million worth of LED light sets.
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“We have completed about 1.4 kilometres of lights and the tunnel is 3.6 kilometres,” Naulls said.
As there is an incline on the exit out of the Burnley Tunnel, many drivers slow down due to the limited visual cues inside.
“Most people don’t know they are driving down 65 metres. It’s like an upside down West Gate Bridge. So that steep climb coming out is creating a speed drop,” Naulls said.
“Throughout their journey (drivers) they are slowing down by 20km/h.
“We can see the congestion all the way back to the start of the tunnel. That’s where the pulsing lights come in.”
Victorian Transport Association chief executive Peter Anderson welcomed the system.
“The movement of the lights past you and you trying to keep up with them assists you in making sure you keep a steady speed,” he said.
“We don’t want the stop and start. We don’t want the compaction at the end of the tunnel.”
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