Traffic lights get upgraded

Traffic lights across Johannesburg will be fitted with uninterrupted power supply units to improve mobility for commuters, the Johannesburg Roads Agency says.

"The city will be spending more than R11 million to modernise traffic lights by installing solar-powered signals and remote monitoring systems at critical intersections," said spokesman Thulani Makhubela.

The agency said it would install uninterrupted power supply units at main intersections so that when there were power cuts in the area, the traffic lights would continue working as normal.

It said 30 percent of the city's traffic lights had been fitted with light-emitting diodes which were much brighter than normal globes thus improving visibility.

Theft and vandalism were still a concern for the city with some of the recently upgraded traffic lights being vandalised.

"These crimes are costing the City and ratepayers an additional R14.5 million that could have been spent on other measures to improve traffic flows in Johannesburg. The Road Agency is working closely with the Johannesburg metro police department to apprehend the culprits," he said.

Seven technical teams had been located across the city to ensure traffic lights were attended to as soon as they became faulty.

The Road Agency is responsible for 10,000 kilometres of road and over 2000 intersections across the city.