The affected intersections included Great North and Kei roads, Great North Road and Oak Street and Great North Road and Mercury Street.
Ward 28’s Clr Mary Goby said the electrical department was instructed to remove the arrows in all four directions at the above-mentioned intersections.
The City Times received comment from an official in the energy department, who said the move was made to improve traffic flow.
“We have introduced new timings in Great North Road, from Webb Street up to Mercury Street, as part of the optimisation of traffic signals in the Benoni area,” he said.
“All the intersections had phase change implemented, therefore some arrows have fallen away.
He said changes are not always well received.
Northmead resident Charlene van Niekerk said that, on April 22, she waited for 20 minutes in traffic that was backed up 500m from the intersection of Mimosa Street and Great North Road.
“What chaos there was; I live in Northmead Extension Four and have been driving the same route to work for 10 years, but on this morning it was total and utter chaos,” she added.
She explained that green lights and arrows were displayed for traffic heading up Mimose Street, towards Great North Road, and also for traffic heading in the opposite direction, towards Great North from Mercury Street.
Goby received over 50 complaints from people.
“I was not informed about the change,” she said.
“Residents complained to me and I had not been told about it.
“I heard it was an absolute nightmare.”
Goby said Ekurhuleni will change the timing back to the previous timing by April 28.
