Role players called to adopt traffic lights in load-shedding in White River and Mbombela
Businesses will connect the traffic light to their generator or an alternative power supply during load-shedding.
Motorists might soon see traffic flowing smoother during load-shedding and power outages, with a newly proposed initiative by the Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism (KLCBT), “Adopt a traffic light”.
KLCBT’s chief operating officer, Linda Grimbeek, said during load-shedding or other power outages, it is an absolute nightmare driving along the R40, N4 and other busy streets in Mbombela and White River. The agency is in conversation with the City of Mbombela (CoM) to identify the busy intersections between the two towns and for businesses to come on board and electrify their nearest traffic lights.
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“If the CoM agrees to the implementation of the programme, shopping centres or businesses near busy intersections can adopt a traffic light in the sense that the business will connect the traffic light to their generator or an alternative power supply. The traffic light would automatically receive power on the generator and during power outages. This will be a great service to the community,” she said.
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Grimbeek also said the success of the initiative will draw customers to businesses, and that they will not have to be stuck in traffic.
“There are no complicated applications or anything like that. Businesses will do the installation by themselves with their own electrician to avoid any damage. However, the municipality officials will be present to open the traffic light power box control to make sure that the connection is in good order and in line with the municipal procedures,” said Grimbeek.
She also said another issue is the protection of the power boxes. “We are calling on business people and the municipality to donate cameras. We need them to point onto the power boxes of the traffic lights, to capture vandals who damage the boxes on purpose and their safety,” she said.
The CoM’s spokesperson, Joseph Ngala, was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.
