Jan Smuts and Burnside Avenue intersection traffic signals set to be reconfigured to avoid confusion

Reconfiguration is in the pipeline for the traffic signals at the Jan Smuts and Burnside Avenue intersection to reduce the number of accidents taking place at this confusing intersection.

Ward 90 councillor Martin Williams and Ward 102 councillor David Potter met with a top traffic signal design engineer of the Johannesburg Roads Agency recently for a site inspection.

Williams said, “The main problem seems to be that drivers approaching Jan Smuts Avenue from the north [Randburg], often misread, misjudge or simply don’t see the correct signals. They inadvertently or deliberately drive through when the signal at Burnside is red for them. This may be because the next signal, at Buckingham Avenue, is green.

“Drivers heading south on Jan Smuts see green ahead, and they continue, when in fact the signal is green for drivers approaching from the one way, which is Burnside, who want to cross Jan Smuts.”

The engineer advised that the signals at Burnside and Buckingham be synchronised so that they are both green or red at the same time.

“Implementation may sound simple, but it involves the submission of details plans and drawings for approval higher up the chain,” said Williams. “One quirk is that, in order to synchronise, the right-turning arrow into Buckingham for south-bound traffic on Jan Smuts will have to be matched by a right turn at the same intersection for north-bound traffic.”

Another proposal is to remove the pedestrian lines on the northern side of the Jan Smuts/Burnside Avenue intersection. This will assist the traffic flow and signalling. Pedestrians will still be able to cross Jan Smuts at the southern end on the same intersection, which may be safer.

Williams concluded that the roads agency would commence with this project early next year pending approval of the redesign.

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