Australia’s Victoria Government has begun a review of traffic light sequencing to make journeys faster and smoother.

As part of a A$340m ($259m) package to create more space on roads, traffic signal lights across 170 junctions in hotspots across Melbourne are being analysed and updated to optimise traffic flow.

The review comes after more than 450 traffic monitoring cameras were installed in the city to identify issues and clear up bottlenecks.

VicRoads, a statutory corporation in Victoria, is installing almost 700 cameras on arterial roads across Melbourne to provide greater real-time monitoring capacity. There are currently around 600 cameras in the city, most of which are on freeways.

The company has also installed 11 permanent electronic message signs, with another 13 to be installed. These relay messages to drivers to warn of incidents and suggest alternate routes.

Victoria Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll said: “From the largest traffic light review in Melbourne’s history to new cameras and smart pedestrian crossings, we’re leaving no stone unturned to ensure Melbourne’s busiest roads are ready.

“Greater visibility across the network allows us to dispatch crews and clear disruptions faster than ever, meaning safer and more reliable trips for drivers.”

Traffic levels in Melbourne dropped to 45% of the normal level in August, when the city was under strict Stage Four lockdown measures. They have since returned to around 95% of the normal level.

This month, the government announced plans to trial recycled, locally processed asphalt on a section of the Hume Freeway.

As part of an A$845,000 ($658,792) project, the southbound lane on an 850m stretch of freeway will be rebuilt using more than 2,100t of recycled road base products.

The products represent around one million recycled glass bottles, 746,000 plastic bags, 420t of reclaimed asphalt and 21,800 printer cartridges combined. They will be processed at the Wodonga Asphalt plant.