MOTORWAY traffic lights that are being ripped out at the end of a multi-million-pound trial might have to be put back in again later this year.

Highways chiefs are taking out six sets of traffic lights on slip roads on the M27 and M3 that have been out of operation since 2003 after a three-year pilot scheme ended.

The Highways Agency is currently investigating the findings of the £4mt trial funded from government money to see whether it had any positive effect on managing motorway traffic.

A decision could be passed up to transport ministers to decide whether effective lights should be put back in.

But the AA Motoring Trust said a lot of time has been wasted and a trial report should have been produced sooner.

Paul Watters, head of roads policy, said: "When this scheme kicked off there was a lot of interest surrounding it. I think it's very disappointing that we haven't seen a report on it almost two years after it ended.

"I agree that it is not right to leave the lights on the roads if they are not operational but perhaps they could have produced their report within the two years it has taken for them to be removed."

The slip road traffic lights, known as "road metering", are currently being removed from junctions three, five, seven, ten and 11 of the M27 and junction 11 of the M3.

Highways Agency bosses said they don't intend to delay the removal of the lights until after the report because they don't want to confuse motorists.

But the lights have been out of operation since November 2003.

A spokesman for the agency said: "A decision has been made that on this particular stretch of motorway a higher traffic flow was required to enable the lights to make a difference.

"But it is only when those making the decision have a general overview that they will be able to say for definite whether or not any of the traffic lights will go back in.

"In fact that will be a decision made much higher up by ministers as a matter of policy."

Councillor Peter Edgar, who is a member of the Solent Transportation Panel, said: "The lights were so inept - they had no positive impact at all, they were useless."

John Evans, Hampshire coordinator for the Association of British Drivers, said: "I've just got back from Los Angeles and they use this traffic light system there and it works perfectly. I don't understand why it couldn't be made to work here when there are huge amounts of traffic on the M27."