How Tees Valley is transforming traffic management with Yutraffic FUSION

In its recently published FUSION Project Report, the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA), UK, documents the results of one of the UK’s largest deployments of adaptive traffic control technology. Importantly, the findings and performance analyses presented in the report originate from TVCA’s own monitoring and evaluation programme: based on real-world operational data and independently sourced journey time analytics.

According to the report, the deployment of Yutraffic FUSION has delivered measurable improvements in journey time reliability, network efficiency, and congestion management across the region’s urban road network. At several monitored corridors, peak-period delays were reduced by more than 50 percent.

For Tees Valley, however, the project represents more than an operational upgrade. The report describes Yutraffic FUSION as a key enabling technology within the region’s broader ambition to become a fully connected, data-driven “Smart Region.”

The Challenge: Growing demand, limited infrastructure

Like many urban regions, Tees Valley faces increasing pressure on its transport infrastructure. Rising travel demand, economic growth ambitions, evolving mobility patterns, and sustainability targets are all placing additional strain on the road network.

Historically, traffic signal systems across the region relied on localized optimization methods such as Vehicle Actuated (VA) control, MOVA, and SCOOT®,. While these approaches can effectively optimize individual intersections or corridors, they are inherently limited when it comes to responding dynamically across a wider regional network.

TVCA identified the need for a more proactive, network-wide approach. One capable of coordinating traffic flows across multiple junctions simultaneously and adapting continuously to changing conditions in real time.

Why traditional traffic control reaches its limits

The Tees Valley report outlines the evolution of urban traffic control systems and the increasing need for broader network coordination. Traditional methods each serve an important role:

• Vehicle Actuated (VA) systems respond locally at individual intersections
• MOVA optimizes isolated junction performance
• SCOOT® enables adaptive corridor and area-wide coordination

However, the report highlights that these systems are still largely constrained to local or corridor-level optimization.

Yutraffic FUSION builds on these established approaches by introducing coordinated, regional-level optimization using real-time traffic data and advanced adaptive algorithms. Instead of optimizing intersections independently, FUSION continuously evaluates traffic conditions across multiple junction groups and corridors simultaneously.

The result is a more responsive and resilient network capable of adapting to peak demand, congestion build-up, incidents, and fluctuating travel patterns in real time.

How Yutraffic FUSION enables Network-Level Optimization

According to TVCA, Yutraffic FUSION operates as an advanced adaptive traffic control layer integrated directly into the region’s existing Urban Traffic Management & Control (UTMC) environment.

One of the key advantages highlighted in the report is that the solution enhances existing infrastructure rather than requiring wholesale replacement. Yutraffic FUSION uses data from existing above-ground and in-ground detection systems while integrating with established operational platforms such as UTC-UX and Stratos.

The report also positions Yutraffic FUSION as the operational layer within Tees Valley’s broader digital transport ecosystem, complementing the region’s evolving Traffic Digital Twin capabilities.

A large-scale regional deployment

The scale of the Tees Valley deployment is particularly notable.

According to the report, Yutraffic FUSION has been deployed across:

• 196 signalized junctions
• 57 coordinated site regions
• spanning the region’s UTMC-managed network estate.

TVCA states that this represents the largest commercial deployment of the solution outside London.

The rollout was implemented in phases and involved close collaboration between TVCA, local authorities, UTMC operators, and Yunex Traffic teams.

Importantly, the phased approach allowed continuous monitoring, validation, and optimization as deployment progressed, ensuring the system could adapt effectively to live operational conditions.

Measurable results across multiple corridors

TVCA’s monitoring and evaluation programme analyzed performance using Floating Vehicle Data and real-world journey time measurements under peak traffic conditions.

The results documented in the report show clear operational benefits across multiple corridors and site types.

Building the foundation for predictive traffic management

Beyond immediate traffic improvements, Tees Valley positions Yutraffic FUSION as a foundational technology for the future of regional mobility management.

A major focus of the programme is the integration between Yutraffic FUSION and the Tees Valley Traffic Digital Twin. According to the report, the two systems together create a continuous feedback loop between real-time network operations, predictive modeling, simulation, and forward-looking decision-making.

In this model:

• Yutraffic FUSION acts as the operational optimization layer,
• while the Digital Twin provides predictive and analytical capabilities.

The result is a shift from reactive traffic management toward a more proactive, intelligence-led transport system.

A blueprint for smarter regional traffic management

The Tees Valley FUSION deployment demonstrates how adaptive traffic control can evolve beyond isolated junction optimization into coordinated, regional traffic management.

The report’s findings suggest that the combination of:

• Real-time data
• Adaptive optimization
• Network-wide coordination
• Integration with digital transport systems

can deliver measurable operational improvements while also creating the foundation for long-term smart mobility strategies.

As cities and regions continue to face increasing transport complexity, the Tees Valley programme provides a practical example of how intelligent, data-driven traffic management can improve network performance today, while preparing infrastructure for the demands of tomorrow.