Traffic bollards receive upgrades to further improve the borough’s highway infrastructure

554 traffic bollards are being changed from illuminated to reflective as part of wider investment into the borough.

We recently received funding from the government to improve the network right across the borough, which is evident in the number of roads being resurfaced, the active travel routes we’re developing and the bus routes we’re making easier to navigate.

And now, due to a £630,000 cash injection from the council to improve street lighting and bollards, another of our key assets is being transformed; which will improve residents’ journey experience, save money and help the planet.

Until recently, all our traffic bollards have all been illuminated, burning for 24 hours with a lamp that needed to be replaced every 3-4 years.

However, with around 150 of 554 left to change, by the end of this year, all traffic bollards will be reflective. Reflective traffic bollards provide the same benefits as illuminated ones and are just as visible. They are much more easily maintained and are incredibly durable – even being able to withstand being struck by a vehicle, as they will rebound to their original state.

If the illuminated bollards were struck, the whole unit had to be replaced. With the reflective bollards, there should be no reason to replace them.

For our street lighting team, of which there are five staff members, this will mean they can attend to other priorities, as they look after over 22,000 assets including streetlights, zebra crossings, illuminated signs, bollards and more. 

And as an added bonus to enhancing signage across the borough, the new traffic bollards will save £27,469 annually on energy costs.

Councillor Quesir Mahmood, Executive Member for Growth and Development said:

Taking small actions such as replacing our traffic bollards for more environmentally friendly alternatives is an easy way to cut down on our energy use, whilst improving the highway infrastructure.

The reflective bollards will save over £27,000 on electricity costs, reduce the number of lamps we replace, the number of hours of maintenance required and pay for themselves in five years. It’s a win-win situation.

One of our main corporate priorities is to deliver our climate emergency plan and by reducing our energy consumption levels, we’re lowering our greenhouse gas emissions.

Four options of reflective bollards are being utilised in the borough: Keep left, keep right, no entry and opal – which stands in the middle of two lanes to show that they separate.