JRA relocates accident-prone traffic signal controller box in Parktown
PARKTOWN – The JRA said that the City currently has 2 500 intersections and of these 120 are down due to theft and vandalism.
Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) embarked on an operation to relocate the traffic signal controller box and traffic signals at the intersection of St Andrews Road and Queen Street in Parktown on February 1.
This intersection has been prone to road accidents, and JRA joined hands with the office of the MMC for Transport Funzela Ngobeni for this operation.
JRA head of freight and mobility Louis Nel said moving the controller box and traffic signals from their original point to a safer location meant that the traffic lights and controller would be less affected by theft and vandalism.
He explained that this exercise would take about one week and said JRA would try by all means to minimise any traffic disruptions and inconvenience to road users.
Nel said, “Another area of concern is that of theft and vandalism of road infrastructure within the city of Johannesburg.
“From a financial perspective, vandalism and theft of traffic lights slows down traffic resulting in people being late for work and other businesses. It makes Johannesburg, as the economic hub of South Africa, ineffective.”
JRA said there were 2 500 intersections in the city, and 120 traffic signals were not operating due to theft and vandalism. The damage was estimated to be R37 million.
“When perpetrators vandalise traffic signals, their aim is to steal electrical cables, batteries, UPS controllers, sim cards and the GPS in controllers. Stealing sim cards makes it difficult to monitor the intersection. The traffic light poles then end up in scrapyards.”
JRA requests members of the public to report these criminal acts to Metro police or SAPS.
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