Irbid — As the smart traffic signal project in Irbid approaches its official launch, attention is turning to the system’s ability to tackle one of the city’s most pressing problems: traffic congestion and bottlenecks, particularly during peak hours and at major intersections.
The smart signals are scheduled to begin operating at three major intersections — Al-Thaqafa Intersection, Barda Signal and Al-Darawsheh Signal — on November 15. The project will then gradually connect 36 traffic lights and intersections to the smart systems and the main control center at Greater Irbid Municipality.
The project comes as the city experiences heavy daily traffic due to population growth, rising vehicle numbers and increased traffic from across the governorate. This has raised questions about whether technology alone can address congestion and whether the smart signals will actually improve traffic flow.
Specialists say the success of the project will not be measured simply by installing and operating the signals, but by their ability to reduce waiting times and respond to varying traffic volumes. They stressed that smart signals are part of an integrated traffic management system rather than a standalone solution to all congestion problems.
According to transport and traffic planning engineer Rakan Hijazi, it is still too early to assess the efficiency of the new signal at Al-Thaqafa Intersection, as some work remains unfinished, including operational components and road markings. The signal’s timing also needs to be adjusted and coordinated with the Barda Signal.
He stressed that intersection development projects should be based on comprehensive traffic studies examining traffic volumes and engineering alternatives before final designs are approved. He noted that the size of Al-Thaqafa Intersection may allow for operational options to regulate opposing traffic movements simultaneously, potentially increasing capacity and reducing waiting times if studies confirm that such options are suitable for the site.
Assessing Traffic Conditions
Hijazi stressed that smart signals alone will not be enough to address congestion. He called for intersections, entry and exit points, parking areas and traffic flows to be viewed as a single integrated system, with the project’s performance assessed on the ground after full operation and its results measured before any final judgment is made.
Traffic expert and lawyer Abdul Rahim Al-Qudah said the success of the smart signal project does not depend simply on electronically connecting the signals, but on their ability to read actual traffic conditions and respond to different traffic volumes by allocating green-light time according to vehicle density in each direction.
He explained that the smart system is expected to monitor traffic volumes and extend the green-light duration for lanes experiencing heavier traffic while reducing it for other directions, rather than relying on fixed timings that remain unchanged despite fluctuations in traffic volumes.
Al-Qudah highlighted the importance of integration between the system, the central control room, traffic officers and field monitors. Cameras and screens allow continuous monitoring of traffic and intervention when necessary, while available data provide traffic officers with better tools to deal with congestion and emergencies.
He also stressed the importance of coordinating nearby signals, including the Al-Thaqafa and Barda signals, so that resolving congestion at one intersection does not simply shift the problem to the next. Linking the signals should aim to regulate vehicle movement along entire streets rather than treating each intersection separately, he said.
Al-Qudah explained that the effectiveness of signal coordination varies from one location to another depending on the distance between intersections, the road network, traffic volumes and the most heavily used directions. Smart signals, he stressed, must be based on actual traffic conditions rather than electronic connectivity alone.
He added that addressing Irbid’s congestion also requires other solutions. A previous traffic study included converting some streets to one-way traffic, organizing entry and exit movements, providing bus parking areas and regulating public transport.
Al-Qudah said converting streets to one-way traffic should be part of an integrated plan that examines public transport routes, parking locations and traffic directions to ensure that changing the direction of one street does not simply shift congestion elsewhere.
He also noted that congestion on Al-Thaqafa Street is not a new problem, pointing out that a tunnel project in the area had been proposed years ago as one possible solution. Expected increases in population and vehicle numbers mean that temporary traffic solutions alone will not be sufficient in the long term, he said.
Peak Hours Will Put the System to the Test
“Smart signals can contribute to improving traffic conditions and easing congestion, but they will not replace long-term infrastructure projects, including tunnels, bridges and engineering solutions at locations suffering from chronic bottlenecks,” Al-Qudah said.
For Irbid residents, the project is expected to have a direct impact on their daily lives, particularly during morning and afternoon peak hours, when major roads and intersections experience significant vehicle congestion.
Resident Ali Shatnawi said citizens do not view smart signals simply as a technology project, but are waiting for tangible results, including shorter waiting times and an end to long queues of vehicles at intersections. Some journeys within the city, he noted, take longer because of congestion than the actual distance would suggest.
Resident Salem Jaradat said the project’s real test would come during peak hours. He called for the performance of the signals to be monitored under heavy traffic conditions rather than being assessed only during normal periods.
He said smart signals could help organize traffic, but this should be accompanied by stricter enforcement against illegal parking and double-parking, as blocked lanes can undermine the ability of any traffic management system to achieve the desired flow.
Greater Irbid Municipality spokesperson Ghaith Al-Tal said the smart signal project is part of the municipality’s efforts to modernize traffic management and use technology to improve services. Operations will initially begin at several major intersections before the system is gradually expanded to connect traffic lights and intersections, eventually reaching 36 signals and intersections.
Al-Tal said the goal is not merely to change signal timings, but to build a system capable of managing traffic more efficiently and using data to identify pressure points and address them according to actual conditions. The project’s performance will be monitored and evaluated after launch, he said.
He explained that the system will be managed through a central control room inside the municipality building equipped with cameras monitoring intersections, allowing traffic to be continuously observed. The control room will operate around the clock once preparations are completed and the system is connected to the relevant equipment and sensors.
“The signals are currently operating according to standard calibration until the sensors are installed and the control room is fully equipped,” Al-Tal said, noting that once the smart system is fully operational, the signals will be able to respond to traffic volumes and pressure in each direction. Their operating mechanisms and timings will change according to actual traffic density rather than relying on fixed schedules.
He stressed that the municipality recognizes that congestion cannot be addressed through traffic signals alone. A comprehensive system is needed covering roads, parking management, stopping regulations, commercial activity and public transport. Nevertheless, he said, the project represents a step toward more efficient traffic management and greater use of modern technology.
Source: Al-Ghad
