Brisbane Pilots AI Traffic Lights at 37 Major Intersections

AI Signal System Installation at 37 Intersections

Brisbane City Council will pilot an artificial intelligence-based signal system at 22 intersections on Logan Road and 15 intersections on Kelvin Grove Road starting in early 2026. The technology will be installed as an overlay "like a hat" on existing infrastructure, with cameras identifying pedestrians, bicycles, cars, trucks, and public transport.

Councillor Ryan Murphy, responsible for transport, stated that the system determines traffic volume and queue length at intersections to calculate optimal signal sequences. The system learns over time and can suggest various intervention options to operators.

Signal Adjustments for Weather and Events

The technology can adjust signals according to weather conditions or major events such as football matches. Murphy emphasized that human oversight is always involved in operations, and all collected data is stored within Brisbane. Faces and license plates are blurred, and data is not transmitted overseas.

The council explained that the system is already operating in other major cities and can reduce average travel times by up to 15% and decrease rear-end collisions by 12%.

Expansion Decision After 6-Month Pilot

The $15 million pilot project will begin in early 2026 and run for six months, after which a decision will be made on whether to expand to all 1,000 intersections managed by the council. Murphy said software development and integration with existing systems will proceed over the coming weeks.

The council will set rules for who receives priority at intersections. For example, some sections of the city center can optimize pedestrian movement, while other sections can prioritize freight transport during daytime hours.

Source

ABC News, AI traffic lights to be trialled on major Brisbane City Council roads, September 10, 2026