Technology promises to clean up the mess created by urban development

As Lyngby continues to grow, the new light rail system will help to unify and connect the city. For the next 5 years it will also create transit challenges that must be anticipated and strategically planned for along the way

Lyngby is in the midst of a transformation. Currently, the area is well connected thanks to its central location in greater Copenhagen, both with the highway network and the rest of the Nordic region through Helsingør. But the city is growing, and if it is to remain unified then access and traffic flow must be maintained.

One of the many viable solutions that has been proposed over the years is a new light rail system. This is now starting to materialize. According to Lene Mårtensson, the head of traffic, the environment, and sustainability at Lyngby-Taarbæk Municipality: “The light rail, as part of the transit system, will provide an opportunity for urban development to occur close to the new stations.”

Work on the line, which extends from Ishøj to Lyngby, began last fall, with the relocation of powerlines and adjacent infrastructure. Next year, construction and excavation work on the line will begin and is expected to continue for the next 5 years. This will affect the traffic on Klampenborgvej in particular, and the town has already started to put initiatives in place to ensure good traffic conditions during the construction.

Technological solutions will help to navigate the construction chaos

Several parts of central Lyngby will be affected by construction that extends into 2025.

As Mårtensson acknowledges: “We’ll have a period during the construction of the light rail where the flow of traffic will be affected. We are working on diverting traffic and rerouting motorists so that traffic can flow when Klampenborgvej becomes closed off.”

In the interim, detour roads have already been designated and intersections have been rebuilt. A new parking system will also ensure that road users can find available parking spaces faster. In this way, technological tricks will be used to facilitate traffic flow and planning.

Mårtensson claims: “We’re already using different technologies to improve traffic, such as radars at central junctions to ensure that lights adjust to traffic intensity rather than having intervals. It’s part of getting traffic to run smoother.”

The entire network must find solutions

At the same time, the City of Knowledge has just set up a new network on mobility to come up with solutions to possible traffic problems.

The network hopes to come up with tailored projects and solutions based on commuter’s experiences
Henrik Grell

As the senior specialist at COWI and coordinator at the City of Knowledge Network on mobility, Henrik Grell explains:

“We hope to be concrete in the mobility network. Everyone is well aware that the next 5 years will be an active period for Lyngby’s infrastructure. There is urban development, the city is growing, and new transportation opportunities are coming with the light rail. But of course one must also look at the challenges brought upon by the construction projects over the next 5 years until the light rail is complete.” By soliciting ideas from across municipalities – and the business and education sectors – the network hopes to come up with tailored projects and solutions based on commuter’s experiences.

Micro-mobility will be a key discussion topic

While Mårtensson and Grell both made reference to micro-mobility solutions to enhance mobility – such as electric scooters, bike sharing, and electric car rental cars – a decision has not yet been reached as to which solutions Lyngby will implement.

As Mårtensson points out: “There are many enquiries and there must be a political discussion on this matter in the near future. But it is clear that some of the solutions seen in other cities are also knocking on our doors here.”

Ultimately, traffic as a collective (i.e., light rail, private railways, S-trains, and buses) must be considered to ensure that the overall system is connected and easy to use and navigate.