Linksfield Road Bridge traffic lights to repaired

Following numerous complaints from Ward 19 Clr Bill Rundle and an enquiry by Bedfordview and Edenvale News, repairs were done to the traffic lights on Linksfield Road Bridge.

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The repairs, started by the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), commenced on the morning of May 5, two days after the NEW’s and Rundle’s visit to the site.

At the intersection in question, Linksfield Road and the N3 South bound Edenvale off-ramp, there were damaged traffic lights and traffic lights which frequently did not work.

According to Rundle, the traffic light was damaged for at least two months, while the malfunctioning lights were a problem for an even longer period.

Where one traffic light stood, exposed wires could be seen strewn across the pavement on the island of Linksfield Road Bridge.

Although Rundle and fellow Clr Heather Hart of Ward 18 highlighted that a beggar would often sit on the island with up to three children near the exposed wire, he did not know if the matter had been reported to the relevant authorities.

“If a child gets electrocuted or struck by a negligent motorist, it will be a major problem,” said Rundle.

During the visit, the woman and children were not found at the intersection.

He said the ineffective intersection would often lead to a backlog of vehicles on Linksfield Road leading back into Edenvale.

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On the day of the NEWS and Rundles’ visit, a minor traffic collision had occurred a short distance before the intersection, causing a backlog in the area.

On the opposite side of the bridge, at the N3 South bound Edenvale on-ramp, another traffic light lay on its side.

On how the damage happened, Rundle said he did not know if the traffic lights were targeted by optimistic criminals hoping to sell the metal or damaged by negligent drivers.

Bertha Scheepers, the JRA spokesperson, said the JRA was informed of the matter on March 3.
The agency believes criminals vandalised the intersection.

“Due to the severity of the damage by criminals, which includes stolen cable, the intersection will have to be rebuilt at considerable cost,” said Scheepers.

“It is not a quick repair. As such, the work needed to be budgeted and scheduled by the JRA construction teams, which extended the repair times.”

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Regarding the exposed cables on the island, Scheepers confirmed they were not live and did not pose a risk to the community.

She thanked the community for their patience and understanding while repairs were underway.

“The agency appreciates them being our eyes and ears on the ground by immediately reporting any new tampering, vandalism, or theft attempts at this intersection which will be operational shortly,” said Scheepers.

Elaborating on the effect of the vandalism, the JRA said over the past four years, 531 of Johannesburg’s 2028 signalised traffic intersections were vandalised by criminals using angle grinders to cut down the traffic signal poles.

These cost the City of Johannesburg R28.1m.

ALSO READ: Intensified efforts to conduct traffic light maintenance, repairs

Between January 2022 and 2023, there were 172 vandalised intersections.

Targeted hotspots include the M1 and M2 on- and off-ramp intersections belonging to Gauteng Province.

According to the agency, the impact is worsened by load-shedding because criminals take advantage of the lack of power to cut the traffic poles and steal copper wire at intersections without the risk of electrocution.

Community members are requested to engage in the City’s Active Citizenry initiative and report all acts of vandalism and theft of road infrastructure and the city’s furniture to the City of Johannesburg’s Call Centre on 0860 562 874 or report these criminal activities to the SAPS on 0860 010 111 or JMPD on 011 375 5911.