Faulty traffic lights cause chaos on R24 near Edenvale

Non-working traffic lights are causing chaos in the greater Edenvale and Meadowdale areas.

According to Ward 92 Clr Kade Guerreiro, the traffic lights located at the intersections along the R24 Edenvale Road Bridge have been out of order for approximately four or five months.

He said the faulty traffic lights are causing chaos, especially during peak hours.

“These are two main intersections on an extremely busy road which is essentially the only direct route into Edenvale from Germiston and vice versa.

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“In terms of whose responsibility the traffic lights are, no one seems to know. The City of Ekurhuleni says it isn’t its traffic lights; SANRAL claims it isn’t its responsibility.

In contrast, the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport, despite being responsible for this stretch of highway claim it is not their responsibility either.

“Everyone is shifting responsibility to each other, and all I want is someone just to take accountability and fix this situation,” said Guerreiro.

According to residents, during rush hour they can easily sit in traffic for an extra 40 to 80 minutes because of the faulty traffic lights.

When asked if there is any assistance from pointsmen, Guerreiro said EMPD does assist at times; however, when they do, there are sometimes too few personnel manning the intersections, but their presence does assist the flow of traffic.

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“I am aware of at least three collisions that have occurred at these intersections; two were between small cars and one involved a motorcycle.

“Luckily they were non-fatal, but it is only a matter of time before someone is hurt or worse.”
While speaking to Guerreiro, Bedfordview and Edenvale News witnessed three near collisions in 45 minutes.

Besides backing up traffic, community members have also reported an increase in crime.
Guerreiro said he has received two reports during the five months, with motorists falling victim to smash-and-grabs.

“With all the traffic, all the vehicles are boxed in, and no one can move, making motorists easy targets for opportunistic criminals.”

“In some instances the perpetrators just flee through traffic while some of them run down onto the highway,” said Guerreiro.

When asked if he knew what caused the traffic lights to stop working, Guerreiro said he was not certain.

In addition to the faulty traffic lights, Guerreiro highlighted another issue in the area: no working street lights.

He said if 10 per cent of the traffic lights between Horwood Street and North Reef Road worked, it was a lot.

“We need this infrastructure to work; it is crucial and essential to the area.”

Guerreiro believed that the reason many of the streetlights weren’t working was because of vandalism.
Guerreiro said when questions were raised to the city as to why the streetlights hadn’t been repaired, he was told there was a lack of budget.

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A request for comment was sent to the City of Ekurhuleni, the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport, as well as Sanral, asking what caused the traffic light fault and why the traffic lights had not been repaired.
Comment was requested by August 24 at 09:00; at the time of going to print, no comment had been received.