How to Remove Traffic Lights in Cities: Skylines: 1 Minute to Mastering Traffic Management

Removing traffic lights in Cities: Skylines is a straightforward way to improve traffic flow for your growing city. Traffic lights are automatically placed at intersections, particularly where two or more major roads meet. While they can help control traffic early on, they often cause congestion as your city expands. To remove them, simply select the intersection you want to modify, click on the road tool, and choose “Toggle Traffic Lights” or a similar function. After turning them off, you’ll often notice traffic moving more smoothly, especially where roundabouts or simpler intersections can handle the flow. As a designer, I always consider how intersections are visually integrated into the city's landscape; replacing traffic lights with roundabouts or one-way streets doesn’t just boost efficiency, but also makes your city layouts look more natural and appealing. Also, if you're thinking about redesigning your city, using a tool like a 3D floor planner can help you visualize new intersections or neighborhood layouts before you make changes in-game.

Tips 1:

Regularly revisit your city’s intersections as it grows. Sometimes it’s better to replace large 4-way intersections with roundabouts or T-junctions; these alternatives often eliminate the need for traffic lights altogether and keep traffic flowing seamlessly.

FAQ

Q: Why should I remove traffic lights in Cities: Skylines?

A: Removing traffic lights can reduce congestion, making vehicles move through intersections more efficiently, especially on busy roads.

Q: How do I remove traffic lights in the game?

A: Click on the intersection, go to the road menu, and look for a “Toggle Traffic Lights” option. Some mods provide even better intersection control.

Q: Should every intersection have traffic lights removed?

A: Not always. Some high-traffic urban intersections may still benefit from lights, but most smaller or roundabout areas work better without them.

Q: Are there mods to control traffic lights easier?

A: Yes. Mods like Traffic Manager: President Edition give you powerful tools to customize signals, priority rules, and more.

Q: What alternative intersection designs work best without traffic lights?

A: Roundabouts, one-way intersections, and T-junctions often manage flow better without signals and reduce traffic backups.