Motorists still waiting for traffic light repairs at dangerous intersection

Complaints continue to pour in from frustrated and concerned motorists about the non-functioning traffic lights at one of the town’s busiest intersections.

It has been over a year since the traffic lights at the Elsburg and Heidelberg roads intersection near Carnival City have been out of order.

As first reported by the Brakpan Herald in October last year, peak travelling times are a nightmare for motorists who have to deal with lengthy delays as traffic backs up during rush-hour.

Numerous residents have complained that their commute to work and school is impacted on a daily basis.
The intersection is also notorious for being a high accident zone.

While traffic officers are often deployed during peak hours, it remains dangerous, with reports of some drivers not slowing down at all to give other road users a chance to navigate safely across.

ALSO READ: Hijackers shift focus to brighter-coloured vehicles

Calls by residents to have these traffic lights repaired or replaced seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

The responsibility of the traffic lights at this particular intersection falls within the ambit of the provincial government.

There are also fears that the traffic lights will be replaced with stop signs, which has been the case along other sections of the R23.

This is irksome to many motorists, as this also causes delays, and may lead to an increase in reckless driving and accidents.

The Elsburg and Heidelberg roads (R554/R23) intersection is, however, not the only crossing in Brakpan where the lights have ceased working.

There are several non-functioning traffic lights in town, as well as at an intersection along Springs Road, and those at the entrance to Dalpark Ext 1.

The problem appears to be rife throughout Ekurhuleni and is not confined to only Brakpan. As recently reported by the Herald’s sister publication, The Springs Advertiser, vandalised traffic lights are a problem in the CoE.

“Traffic signals vandalism is destruction of municipal property without purpose and is costly to the city,” said CoE spokesperson Zweli Dlamini.

“The cost depends on the damage caused to the intersection, and it can differ from as little as R15 000 to replace a few poles or signal heads to a few hundred thousand rands to reinstate a completely stolen/vandalised intersection,” said Dlamini.

According to Dlamini, the number of vandalised traffic lights in the city is growing.

“This is a real concern and it is dangerous because there is a real risk of loss of life and property, loss of time due to delays, driver frustration, and road rage,” he said.

“It affects the mobility of traffic, it increases travel costs and causes major delays. It also compromises road safety in a big way.”

Dlamini states that it is worth fixing because it makes the movement of vehicles and pedestrians safer and seamless.

“However, if the vandalism happens regularly, regrettably then it is not worth it, as it will be regarded as fruitless and wasteful expenditure. Anyone with information that will help us address the vandalism must report it to the police,” said Dlamini.

There is no turnaround time for repairs of a traffic light.

ALSO READ: Danger lurks on Main Reef Road

“The city always tries to repair the intersection as soon as possible, but for those intersections which are regularly vandalised, alternative measures will be considered,” said Dlamini.

“All of the above remains subject to the availability of funds. We will appreciate any support from the community or private security companies who are regularly patrolling their areas, by reporting any sign of vandalism to the police and the EMPD.

“We have an ongoing campaign encouraging the public to report infrastructure vandalism.”

Comment is awaited from the CoE and the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport pertaining to the affected Brakpan traffic lights.