Metro to power up Cussonia Avenue traffic lights

The process of installing a new mini-substation to power up the traffic lights at the intersection of Cussonia Avenue and Stanza Bopape Street is currently underway.

The traffic lights at this busy intersection next to the Pretoria Botanical Gardens have been out of service for almost a year now, despite numerous complaints from motorists and residents.

Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the installation process had been hampered by cable faults on old electrical infrastructure.

“As soon as the electricity supply is restored, the traffic lights at the intersection should function normally.”

Mashigo said the traffic signals have also been dysfunctional due to tampering with electrical components.

He said the mini-sub between Cussonia and the N4 as well as the traffic signal controller were vandalised and cables were stolen.

“In this regard, the traffic signal team cannot effect any repairs before the power supply can be restored,” Mashigo said.

The out-of-service traffic lights have led to increased congestion, car crashes and delays during peak hours, particularly for those travelling to and from Silverton and Meyerspark.

Motorists have also raised concerns regarding reckless and impatient driving.

Ward 46 councillor Pieter van Heerden previously said the issue with the traffic lights was caused by vandalism and cable theft.

He previously said the traffic lights controller needed to be moved to a new safer place.

“I know the traffic lights have been off for months now due to vandalism at the electricity feeding kiosk,” said Van Heerden.

He said the city delayed repairs because it needed to move the kiosk to a safer location.

“For many months there have not been any medium voltage cables to supply power to the traffic lights.

According to the depot, it would have resolved this issue as a matter of urgency a long time ago had it not been for two major obstacles beyond its control, which it had openly raised multiple times in the past,” said Van Heerden.

The two major challenges beyond the region’s control are as follows:

– Unavailability of MV cables in all Tshwane stores that prevented this cable rerouting project at Cussonia. The challenge of MV cable unavailability is gradually improving though still trickling in small quantities in an unpredictable manner for project planning but no longer an obstacle.

– The depot also needed the service provider (SP) to execute this cable rerouting project, which entails a network redesign, alteration and construction. There has not been any movement or improvement in resolving the unavailability of service providers.

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