In April 2018, as part of the Mayor’s Congestion Deal, we extended the operating hours of our control centre to run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This enabled us to keep a constant oversight of the Greater Manchester’s key road network and allowed us to respond quickly to disruption and congestion.
Over 800 Bluetooth sensors monitor traffic movement across the city-region and our cameras give us real-time information. If there is, for example, a road traffic accident at a key junction we can change signalling times in the area, and inform the public via our variable message signs and social media.
In addition, we have recently introduced a real-time GPS traffic monitoring system that enables us to instantly react to live incidents that are taking place across the road network. This software allows us to update road users’ GPS and SatNav devices so that they can use alternative routes and avoid delays.
If there are major events happening the city-region – for example a midweek Champion’s League football match, the Greater Manchester Run or Pride Weekend – we can co-ordinate a multi-agency, multi-modal approach that includes, Metrolink, bus and train – directly from the control centre to ensure a strategic and integrated approach that can meet demand.
We recently made our some of our highway cameras available to view on the TfGM website – so anyone can check the road network before they travel.
