An image sensor comprising: an imaging array of photosensitive regions arranged in columns; a plurality of vertical CCDs each associated with a column of photosensitive regions; a horizontal CCD for receiving charge from the plurality of vertical CCDs; disposed over the plurality of vertical CCDs, a plurality of groups of gate conductors (245, 250, 255) for controlling transfer of charge within the vertical CCDs, each group being responsive to a different phase-control signal (V1, V2, V3), and each gate conductor having a first resistivity; a plurality of bus lines (310, 315, 320), each bus line conducting a different phase-control signal to a different group of gate conductors; disposed over the plurality of gate conductors in a first direction, a plurality of vertical strapping lines (225, 230, 235) each electrically connected to one of the bus lines on a first side of the imaging array; extending over the plurality of gate conductors in a second direction not parallel to the first direction, a plurality of horizontal strapping lines (325, 330, 335) each having a third resistivity less than the first resistivity; and a plurality of contacts (355, 360, 365) each electrically connecting a vertical strapping line to a horizontal strapping line to form a plurality of strapping grids each (i) comprising one or more vertical strapping lines and one or more horizontal strapping lines, (ii) electrically connected to a different bus line, and (iii) electrically connected to a different group of gate conductors, characterized in that each vertical strapping line has a second resistivity less than the first resistivity, each horizontal strapping line is electrically connected to one of the bus lines on a second side of the imaging array, and each bus line extends along the first and the second sides, wherein the first and second sides are two adjacent sides of the imaging array. an imaging array of photosensitive regions arranged in columns; a plurality of vertical CCDs each associated with a column of photosensitive regions; a horizontal CCD for receiving charge from the plurality of vertical CCDs; disposed over the plurality of vertical CCDs, a plurality of groups of gate conductors (245, 250, 255) for controlling transfer of charge within the vertical CCDs, each group being responsive to a different phase-control signal (V1, V2, V3), and each gate conductor having a first resistivity; a plurality of bus lines (310, 315, 320), each bus line conducting a different phase-control signal to a different group of gate conductors; disposed over the plurality of gate conductors in a first direction, a plurality of vertical strapping lines (225, 230, 235) each electrically connected to one of the bus lines on a first side of the imaging array; extending over the plurality of gate conductors in a second direction not parallel to the first direction, a plurality of horizontal strapping lines (325, 330, 335) each having a third resistivity less than the first resistivity; and a plurality of contacts (355, 360, 365) each electrically connecting a vertical strapping line to a horizontal strapping line to form a plurality of strapping grids each (i) comprising one or more vertical strapping lines and one or more horizontal strapping lines, (ii) electrically connected to a different bus line, and (iii) electrically connected to a different group of gate conductors,