Byo traffic lights obsolete

By The NewsDay | Jan. 15, 2013 | 2 Min read

THE Bulawayo City Council has revealed that traffic light controllers in the country’s second largest city are obsolete, making them difficult to repair.

REPORT BY SHERYLEEN MASUKU OWN CORRESPONDENT

The disclosure comes amid concerns from the public that the city traffic lights were constantly breaking down.

According to the latest council minutes, an investigation by the local authority around the city showed that a number of traffic lights were malfunctioning, posing a danger to motorists, pedestrians and schoolchildren “as some of the traffic lights are located close to local schools”.

“Most of our traffic lights controllers are now obsolete and difficult to repair, there is need to purchase new traffic controllers for most of our constantly malfunctioning traffic-controlled intersections,” read part of the minutes.

Previous council minutes show that since September last year, the local authority has been aware of the problem of traffic light controllers and recommended purchasing new ones. In September council said there was need to purchase at least 10 Lunar 24 controllers as this would reduce the number of traffic lights that were frequently breaking down.

“The installation would reduce the number of traffic lights that are constantly not working. The installation of Lunar traffic controllers will also facilitate synchronisation of traffic flow and reduce unnecessary congestion in the CBD,” read the September 2012 minutes.

In October last year, the local authority report stated that most traffic controllers had outlived their life span and there was need to start replacing them.

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However, in an interview with NewsDay yesterday, deputy mayor Amen Mpofu said the local authority was facing financial constraints, meaning the problem was unlikely to be resolved soon.

He, however, expressed optimism, saying: “I can assure you we will do something about it.”