Motorists urged to drive with caution between Lever and Olifantsfontein Roads
One motorists said he reported the matter to relevant authorities about eight months ago, but no reference number was allocated.
Following several accidents at the various intersections in Noordwyk, the ward committee member for transport in Ward 112 Sipho Dibakwane advised motorists to drive carefully.
This results from non-functioning traffic lights on the corner of Lever and Olifantsfontein Roads, and the Olifantsfontein M1 highway on-ramp and off-ramp.
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Dibakwane urged motorists to drive with caution. “Let’s please take care on Olifantsfontein and Lever Roads, plus the on or off-ramps, the traffic lights are not working,” said Dibakwane.
Another resident, who asked not to be named, said he uses the road daily, as well as the on-ramp to the M1 highway, while going to work.
He said although there were pointsmen at other intersections travelling towards the on-ramp, there was a need for pointsmen on the on-ramp and off-ramp as the traffic light was: ‘working, but malfunctioning’.
“However, this road timing is deactivated as it should allow the vehicle to turn toward the on-ramp for about 30–45 seconds. This is no longer happening resulting in the high risk for those turning to join the highway,” said the resident.
He said as a result of the high accident possibilities, tow-trucks are now camping by the robot, knowing that the faulty traffic light will eventually create business for them.
“I have reported this matter, including raising it with the traffic officers themselves, but with no luck. It’s almost eight months since I reported this matter, and because I’m unable to provide the street names, there is no reference number allocated,” he added.
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He said with the on-ramping traffic light, it was just a matter of re-configuring the robot to indicate the arrow for those vehicles joining the M1 highway, and nothing more.
“Alternatively, switch it off in the morning to allow the Outsurance team to manage it.”
Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport spokesperson Lesiba Mpya said there has been a surge in the destruction and vandalism of traffic signals throughout the province.
“We have, as a result, depleted the repairs and maintenance budget in the current financial year as the repairs and replacements of these signals were initially not budgeted for. Although this is the case, the department awaits the budget adjustment window period around October to reallocate the budget for the continuation of service,” said Mpya.
He said, in the interim, the recourse has been to convert these affected intersections into four-way stops, even though they acknowledge that this impacts time delay and creates traffic congestion due to heavy traffic flow, and this inconveniences the road user.
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