City restores right-turn signal at Katherine and Grayston drives following public outcry
After weeks of concern from motorists and residents, the City of Johannesburg has reinstated the right-turn signal at the busy Katherine Street and Grayston Drive intersection, restoring safer driving conditions.
Sandton motorists have welcomed the reinstatement of the green flashing arrow allowing right turns from Katherine Street onto Grayston Drive. This follows public concern about safety after its earlier removal to make way for the Rea Vaya bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor.
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Local resident Maga Moodley, who had previously raised the alarm over the change, expressed relief and appreciation after the signal was restored. “What a relief. It makes for much safer driving. Navigating that intersection had become stressful and risky for many of us. I’m genuinely grateful to see the right-turn signal back. Thank you to everyone who took our concerns seriously and acted on them.”
The right-turn signal had been removed in early August to streamline bus traffic and improve efficiency for the upcoming Rea Vaya BRT rollout. However, the change was met with criticism from road users, who said it compromised safety for both motorists and pedestrians.
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In a previous article, City of Johannesburg Transport Department marketing and communications director Benny Makgoga explained the reasoning behind this change. “The technical rationale behind removing right turn signals at certain intersections along the BRT corridor, is to improve the overall operating speed of the buses along the corridor, optimising efficiency and reliability of the bus service. Right turn vehicles crossing the bus lane forces an additional stop, disrupting the flow of the high frequency bus service and increasing travel times.”
He added that eliminating right turns simplifies traffic signal phasing, allowing buses to maintain priority and consistent schedules, which is critical for the system’s success. “Public participation was conducted in Region E before the Rea Vaya project was approved, in compliance with legislation. Traffic engineers are currently monitoring the intersection and exploring feasible options to address the concerns, before the Rea Vaya buses launch in September 2025.”
Following ongoing monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and community feedback, the City of Johannesburg’s Transport Department reviewed the decision and opted to reinstate the green arrow to balance both safety and transport efficiency.
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