The UK’s Transport for London (TfL) has granted funds to four schemes as part of its £4bn Road Modernisation Plan to optimise the city’s limited road space and reduce congestion.

The grants have been awarded as a part of TfL’s Future Streets Incubator Fund.

With the award of the grants, TfL will now collaborate with the successful bidders on the four schemes.

"By trialling new ideas, we are able to look to the future at how we can make our roads and public spaces work better for everyone."

The first project involves creating a noise-absorbing barrier that can protect residents living near the A12 Blackwall Tunnel. This noise-absorption material will be experimented at the A12 underpass between Empson Street and Gillender Street. This project will be delivered by Poplar Housing and Regeneration Community Association, as well as London Borough of Tower Hamlets, reported Traffictechnologytoday.com.

The second scheme involves consolidation of deliveries to firms located at Holborn, Bloomsbury and St Giles. Under this scheme, a central platform will be established for ordering daily requirements such as milk or newspapers. These items will be delivered using electric vehicles (EVs) to up to 320 local firms. This scheme will be delivered by the Inmidtown BID and is expected to reduce vehicle miles by 81% annually and greenhouse gas emissions by 60% every year.

Creating an ‘intelligent street’ is the third scheme, which aims to create a traffic-free space off Oxford Street. Using a range of advanced technologies, the project will be delivered by the New West End Company.

Delivered by Better Bankside, the fourth scheme deals with using a flexible boardwalk to change Lavington Street in Southwark into a pedestrian-friendly street. In order to expand the path, a boardwalk system will be used. One-way traffic will be experimented in this traffic-congested area.

TfL managing director of planning Richard De Cani said: "The fabulously creative and innovative ideas we are funding as part of the Incubator Fund capture the spirit of turning London’s streets into places for all to enjoy and work to deliver the vision of the mayor’s Roads Task Force.

"By trialling new ideas, we are able to look to the future at how we can make our roads and public spaces work better for everyone."