JRA answers to malfunctioning traffic lights
Primary contributors to malfunctioning traffic signals include technical faults, power outages, theft, vandalism, and accidents, says JRA.
Commuters across the region are facing a daily gridlock as traffic lights in most of the key intersections are non-operational.
Busy roads like Albertina Sisulu, N1 in Maraisburg, Ontdekkers and Hendrik Potgieter roads are becoming notorious bottlenecks, especially during peak hours.
According to Fayroza Wadvalla, a member of the Maraisburg Resident Association, the lack of functioning traffic lights has become a persistent issue in the area for months.
“One of our problematic roads is Albertina Sisulu coming from Florida to the N1 and Bosmont. All the traffic lights are out, and the traffic there is terrible. It’s causing frustration and delays for motorists, and we urge the authorities to address this problem as soon as possible,” Wadvalla said.
“Another problematic intersection is Hendrik Potgieter and Ontdekkers Road. Traffic is always jammed there, and schools are now open; you can imagine how it is.”
Wadvalla added that the traffic chaos in the area takes an ominous turn at night.
“Driving in the evenings is even more daunting. The non-functioning traffic lights become a free-for-all, with many drivers failing to treat them as four-way stops. It’s a recipe for disaster, and we’re lucky no major accidents have occurred yet.”
The Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA) said the primary contributors to malfunctioning traffic signals include technical faults, power outages, theft, vandalism and accidents.
“Globally, cities face similar challenges, but it’s up to us to develop solutions tailored to South Africa’s unique context. The JRA, in collaboration with private sector stakeholders and academic institutions, is actively exploring innovative solutions to mitigate these challenges ” said CEO of JRA, Zweli Nyathi.
Nyathi added to address the technical faults, they have installed remote monitoring systems on more than 80% of traffic light controllers. These systems detect and report over 90% of faults before they become apparent to the public, enabling faster responses.
“For power-related issues, we have partnered with over 40 companies to connect traffic signals near their buildings to back-up power supplies. To date, more than 80 intersections were successfully linked, with plans to connect an additional 80 intersections by the end of June”, he says.
Nyathi concluded that they are working with the Johannesburg Metro Police Department to address theft and vandalism that compromise Eskom and City Power’s infrastructure. He said they’ve implemented measures to hold motorists accountable for accidents causing damage to traffic signals.
