Is ramp metering dead?

[XC70]

Many years ago traffic lights were installed at a few of the junctions near me on the M1 nr Sheffield. These served to control the flow of vehicles onto the mainline when it was busy. I believe it is called ramp metering.

For a good few years now I have not seen them in action. We also had an upgrade to - so called - Smart motorway a few years back and I am not sure if these 2 events were related.

So is ramp metering still in use on UK motorways? Or has it been binned? Is it comparable with Smart motorways, or is it only compatible with regular motorways?

Thanks in advance.

[darkcape]

I believe a lot of the thinking was that the Smart Motorway speed control negated the need for ramp metering which is why some sites were removed.

However, the M1 J23a-25 retained the signals to the northbound onslip at J24a. There is/was a motorway-to-motorway installation on the M6 to M62 relatively recently?

[M19]

The eastbound onslip onto the A14 at J4, just outside my estate has ramp metering which is on when the A14 grinds to a crawl. The A14 has quite a short but fairly steep incline at this point with the slip for the services at the top, so traffic has a habit of slowing up when it is busy.

[A320Driver]

Still in use at M25 J11 (as of 2-3 weeks ago).

[RJDG14]

I know the lights you're talking about but I've never seen them in action. They're found mostly on sliproads along the most busy stretches of motorway, such as the M25 and southern portions of the M1/M6.

[Bryn666]

I believe a lot of the thinking was that the Smart Motorway speed control negated the need for ramp metering which is why some sites were removed.

However, the M1 J23a-25 retained the signals to the northbound onslip at J24a. There is/was a motorway-to-motorway installation on the M6 to M62 relatively recently?

It got removed as part of the J10-12 works. It was only ever intended as an experiment.

[Big L]

Still in use on non-smart M5 junction 1 last week.

[trickstat]

I know the lights you're talking about but I've never seen them in action. They're found mostly on sliproads along the most busy stretches of motorway, such as the M25 and southern portions of the M1/M6.

They are also on the southbound onslip at J7 of the A1(M) (Langley Sidings/Stevenage South). I don't know how often, if at all, they are triggered, but it is quite a short sliproad and you do get congestion, especially with the incline about half a mile south near Knebworth. It is 2 junctions south of my usual access and the odd occasions when I do use it myself are well away from peak times.

[Peter Freeman]

Close to death in the UK, but alive, thriving and expanding in Australia and New Zealand. It has its adherents and its critics (I'm still sitting on the fence), but the road management authorities are adamant that it works and is worthwhile. It is integrated with other aspects of our Smart Motorways. Links to VicRoads videos, from a few years ago -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pahIsJEFEMU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzfbtj1ie1k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCEBpgEv_QQ
Previously extensively discussed on Sabre: search 'ramp metering'.

[B1040]

I'm guessing that on the M42 east of Birmingham, there's effectively a lane gain on the junctions so ramp metering isn't needed.

[Barkstar]

M60 junction 2 has them. It's been a while since I when through there during the rush hour but they are still in place. And very much still in use at jct 2 on the M56 yesterday. I'd be happy for them to be installed at the eastbound A34 on slip onto the M60 at Jct 3 where nose to tail traffic expects the vehicles in lane one to give way to them.....

[NICK 647063]

I think the M1 around Sheffield is far better since the smart motorway was finished, yes it has safety issues but either way it’s got 25% extra capacity which means ramp metering isn’t really needed as you can keep the M1 and slip roads flowing rather than holding up the on slip.

I did notice some ramp metering at a on slip onto the A3 in Guildford not sure how often it’s used as it wasn’t working both times I went past.

[Lockwood]

I've seen the Guildford one in use... Sometimes.

Nothing like as often as I would have expected

[the cheesecake man]

I think the M1 around Sheffield is far better since the smart motorway was finished, yes it has safety issues but either way it’s got 25% extra capacity which means ramp metering isn’t really needed as you can keep the M1 and slip roads flowing rather than holding up the on slip.

I haven't encountered the lights on since smartification. J33 has lane gains so there doesn't seem any point in metering.

[Matthew]

I've seen the Guildford one in use... Sometimes.

Do you mean the M25 at junction 10, because I'm not really sure the A3 around the town has them?

[Lockwood]

I mean the one on the A3 Southbound at Guildford

[Matthew]

I had no idea there was any in place on the A3 slips.

[Duncan macknight]

One rather tired looking set on the M8 at J16.

Recently installed at the Queensferry Crossing approaches but I’ve not seen them used just yet.

[thomas417]

Always failed to see how this works, surely holding back traffic to then enter on mass will jam the road again as you try to merge.

[Ruperts Trooper]

Always failed to see how this works, surely holding back traffic to then enter on mass will jam the road again as you try to merge.

When they operate, the slip road only gets green for a very short period allowing just a few vehicles through - the theory being that if the mainline isn't brought top a standstill it can absorb a few vehicles at a time.