Critical lighting restored at one of the busiest roundabouts in Gloucestershire at the A46 Junction

The scheme involved a comprehensive upgrade of the roundabout’s electrical infrastructure, including:

• Re-cabling 2,500 metres of electrical infrastructure across 40 lighting columns.
• Installing a new modular feeder pillar to replace the decommissioned system.
• Managing traffic flows at a high‑use junction operating alongside M5 diversion routes.

All works were delivered while maintaining access for emergency services, winter gritting operations, and local businesses.

Traffic Management and Operational Complexity

Traffic management was one of the project’s most demanding elements. With multiple National Highways schemes running concurrently in the area, significant amounts of traffic, including HGVs, were diverted through the roundabout.

To maintain safe and efficient movement across all five entry points, McCann worked closely with its traffic management partner to develop and deliver a six‑phase traffic management strategy. This phased approach ensured traffic flows were maintained, with lane closures aligned with M5 diversion schedules to minimise congestion. Liaison with the regional control centre on gritting routes and times ensured access for both emergency vehicles and gritters was preserved throughout the winter working period.

Zero safety incidents were recorded during the delivery of the project. Night-time visibility was significantly improved, which has reduced the risk of collisions.

Stakeholder and Community Relations

The roundabout sits next to a 24‑hour truck stop, where drivers often sleep overnight. Night‑time working therefore required careful consideration to minimise disruption. McCann adopted low‑noise practices, using battery‑powered tools and solar generators, and restricted compound activities during night shifts. All materials were loaded at the start of each shift to avoid repeated vehicle movements to the compound and unnecessary noise.

These measures helped to strengthen relations with local businesses and residents, as did a partnership with a local Tewkesbury farm shop which was used for worker welfare services, increasing spend in the local economy. Surplus paving slabs were donated to the truck stop to support improvements there, helping to reduce waste while benefiting the local community.

Innovative Engineering and Logistics

During delivery, surveys identified that sections of existing ducting were serviceable but partially buried. Rather than undertaking extensive excavations, the team opted to reuse this infrastructure at key road crossings. This approach avoided unnecessary disruption to underground utilities, reduced waste, and saved approximately eight shifts of excavation work.

The lifespan of the electrical assets has been extended by approximately 15 years, and the new feeder pillar was strategically relocated closer to the roundabout, decisions that not only improved operational efficiency but also eliminated the need for future road closures during maintenance and testing activities. This intervention is forecast to save National Highways around £100,000 in traffic management costs over the asset’s lifecycle.

Pedestrian access routes were also introduced between the compound and working areas, reducing vehicle movements, improving workforce safety, and creating additional working space within the site.

Sustainability and Environmental Considerations

Sustainability was embedded within the delivery. Solar generators and battery‑powered equipment reduced both noise pollution and carbon emissions, while re-use of existing electrical ducting minimised material waste.

By reducing plant movements and eliminating repeated trips to the compound, the team cut vehicle emissions, achieving an estimated reduction of 1.2 tonnes of CO₂ over the course of the project. The new feeder pillar system was modular, so it is designed to accommodate future smart lighting upgrades, supporting National Highways’ long‑term digital and net zero ambitions.

A benchmark for community‑focused highway delivery

Despite complex traffic conditions, winter working, and sensitive stakeholder constraints, McCann successfully delivered the A46 Teddington Hands Road Lighting and Electrical package without compromise to safety, community wellbeing, or network performance.

The scheme stands as a clear example of McCann’s capability to deliver technically complex highway upgrades that balance operational demands with sustainability, stakeholder confidence, and long‑term value, both for National Highways and for motorists.