UPDATE: Snake Road robots to be replaced with stop signs

Following an inspection the provincial government found that it is may not be viable to replace the damaged infrastructure.

November 13, 2023

Jani de beer 1 minute read

Residents of Mackenzie Park claim incidents of smash-and-grabs have been on the increase since March and believe that it will continue to rise if the affected traffic lights are replaced with stop signs.

The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport will not repair or replace the traffic lights along Snake Road.

According to a statement released on behalf of the MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale Tlabela, received a month after Benoni City Times’ initial enquiry, they inspected the road.

“It was notable that almost all the signalised intersections were vandalised.

“Because of its remoteness and constant vandalism, these intersections might require the department to temporarily decommission the current traffic control measures and opt for stop junctions,” read the statement.

The Benoni City Times on October 20 reported that robots at seven intersections along the 4km stretch of road had been vandalised between March and April, causing lengthy delays during peak-hour traffic.

Trenches leading to the traffic light on the corner of Main Reef and Snake roads are an indication of cable theft.

The affected intersections included Heron and Tom Jones streets, Dewald Hattingh, Main Reef and New Modder roads, as well as Pioneer and Golden drives.

The vandals removed the cables of the automated signals or cut the entire masts at the base and removed them.

At the time Mackenzie Park resident, Melanie Kruger stated although navigating the severe traffic congestion is frustrating for motorists and residents, security threats such as a higher incidence of smash-and-grabs are of grave concern.

Upon hearing the robots will be replaced with stop signs, Kruger stated that the ‘solution’ is laughable.

Masts of some of the traffic lights have been cut down and stolen.

“They have stationed EMPD officers at the major intersections during peak times which somewhat created a steady flow,” she said.

“Once the stop signs have been installed, their services will no longer be necessary and they will redeploy them.

“Motorists do not heed stop signs at the best of times. Pair that with gridlock traffic and we are going to see a lot more reckless driving, resulting in accidents. This is not a solution. It is a death trap,” Kruger stated.

At the time of publication, the MEC’s office could not confirm when stop signs would be installed.

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