UK first as TfL installs eco-lighting in London road tunnel

The Upper Thames Street westbound tunnel is now entirely lit with low energy, long-life luminaries, which, according to TfL, have also been designed to improve visibility for cyclists and motorists, to boost safety. Dana Skelley, director of roads at TfL and chair of the UK Lighting Board, says that the lights will also cut CO2 emissions by more than 60%, compared with conventional systems – contributing towards the Mayor of London Boris Johnson's target of a 60% reduction in the capital's CO2 emissions by 2025. Projections show the cost of lighting the tunnel could fall from around £50,000 each year to less than £10,000. She also expects the new lights to last for 20 years, as opposed to the existing system's two year life span. "LED technology and other energy saving methods are opportunities that all highway authorities should be looking at as they can bring benefits both to road users and the authority," comments Skelley. "TfL is firmly embracing new lighting technologies across all modes of transport, and the new system is a firm step towards greener more efficient street lighting in London," she adds. TfL says it will be "closely monitoring" the LED lighting system over the coming months to validate the new technology, while also investigating other areas for introducing LED lighting technology within the other 12 tunnels on the TfL road network.