Technology used for architectural ornamental lighting, such as monuments, has been adapted for use on the strategic road network in a national first.
Highways England said the new lighting is 53% more efficient, saving the equivalent energy of powering the homes of 20,000 people and 389,000 loads of washing.
More than 1,600 street lights were replaced with modern LED lighting units on the M62 near Huddersfield and Halifax (junction 22 to 25), and the M621 near Leeds, with lighting specialists and highways contractors working together.
The project also included upgrading street lighting power supply equipment on both roads and the installation of a remote monitoring system to allow contractors to remotely control the lights.
Highways England service delivery team leader for Yorkshire and Humber, Mark Ramsden, said: ‘This is a true example of taking innovation from another industry, modifying it for the highways sector, and improving value by locking in safety, customer, cost efficiencies and environment benefits.
‘We have replaced the conventional lighting with the newly developed lighting to provide bright, effective illumination to highways and road signs – reducing maintenance and road closures for drivers.’
