The much anticipated yet controversial Church Square traffic lights will be switched on this morning. Various companies contracted by Makana Municipality have been working on installing the lights over the past few weeks. The cost of the traffic lights is estimated at more than R900 000 and the maintenance will be conducted by the municipality itself.
The much anticipated yet controversial Church Square traffic lights will be switched on this morning. Various companies contracted by Makana Municipality have been working on installing the lights over the past few weeks. The cost of the traffic lights is estimated at more than R900 000 and the maintenance will be conducted by the municipality itself.
The Executive Mayor of Makana, Vumile Lwana will officially switch on the recently installed traffic lights at 10am this morning.
Makana Municipality media spokesperson Thandy Matebese said the state-of-the-art traffic lights are fitted with traffic flow sensors to allow more time for drivers driving in lanes with more traffic to proceed at a rapid rate. Because many motorists who use the intersection frequently are concerned about pedestrians who don’t to stop for motorists and vice-versa, the traffic lights also have a special pedestrian phase which will regulate pedestrian crossings. It is hoped that both drivers and pedestrians using the intersection will abide by these signals.
The newly installed lights are equipped with energy efficient technology which will see the consumption of electricity being kept to a minimum. “Since they are electrically powered, in cases of electricity outages the intersection will operate on a first come first go basis,” said Matebese.
“It is expected that the installation of these traffic lights will alleviate the traffic congestion in the central business district especially during lunch hours and around close of business hours. The hesitation that has always been there between the pedestrians and the motorists about who had the right of way will now be a thing of the past,” said Matebese. He urges both pedestrians and motorists “to observe the rules of the road and to exercise patience and tolerance towards each other”.
