The City Hall plans to cover the entire capital with smart traffic lights by the end of 2024. The head of the Department of Transport and Road Transport Infrastructure Development, Ulan Uezbaev, announced at the round table «Sustainable Development of Bishkek: Main Trends in Transport Development.»
According to him, more than 400,000 cars are officially registered in the city and up to 100,000 a day come from other regions.
«This leads to congestion. The capital is not designed for such a number of cars. We will work to improve roads. The municipality has a concept aimed at solving the traffic jam problem.
In the short term, we will reorganize traffic at some intersections. For example, as part of a study of traffic flows, cameras were installed at the intersection of the Southern Highway and Baytik Baatyr Street, counting how many cars were passing and in which direction. We studied for a week, collected information, then changed three road signs — they allowed turning left from the second lane. As a result, the intersection was decongested by 20-30 percent. We are currently studying other intersections. These are short-term measures where signs can be changed,» Ulan Uezbaev said.
The medium-term plan provides for the introduction of an automated traffic control system.
«The project has already started. In pilot mode, we will start from Tokombaev, Baytik Baatyr/Abdrakhmanov streets,» the head of the transport department noted.
We install sensors that analyze the number of cars at 21 intersections from Nurkamal Street to Kurenkeev Street. Traffic lights will automatically operate to change the direction of flow.
Ulan Uezbaev
According to him, it is planned that the pilot project will begin on February 10. Over the next year, the City Hall plans to cover the entire city with the system. This will reduce traffic jams and congestion by about 30 percent. In addition, the municipality will be able to model public transport flows and schemes.
«There are about 350 intersections in Bishkek where traffic lights are installed. Of these, the traffic lights are still of the Soviet standard at 72 intersections, we will change them and introduce automation throughout the city,» Ulan Uezbaev added.
