The delay in installing the traffic lights is a constant source of traffic headaches to motorists who use the busy Witkoppen Road daily. Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) spokesperson Bertha Peters-Scheepers told Fourways Review that the copper cables for the robots were stolen but the City council was working on replacing them. Peters-Scheepers said the robots will be operational by Mid-August.
“The JRA is committed to providing quality roads that are accessible, safe and liveable for our communities, and as Witkoppen is a key arterial route in the City, the matter has been prioritised for urgent finalisation. The traffic signal installation teams will be on site shortly and we anticipate the intersection will be fully operational by mid-August. We apologise for the inconvenience to road users,” said Peter-Scheepers.
Ward 93 councillor Annette Deppe is not having any of that. Deppe is holding the consulting engineers responsible for not putting back the robots.
In a written communication leaked to this newspaper, Ronny Motsatsi of GMH consulting engineers, told William Hlabangwane of the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport that the Johannesburg Roads Agency was still to fix the traffic lights.
“The JRA (traffic signal/light division) manager Mr Shane Marsh has indicated that the re-installation of [the] traffic light at the Witkoppen/Cambridge intersection will be addressed as soon as they get all the wayleaves, this could take them five to six weeks to get all the information,” reads part of the e-mail message. He indicated that JRA will try their best to resolve the situation.
Deppe has been leading the community in demanding a proper completion of the work. Deppe initially refused to accept the project on behalf of the community, demanding the site be cleaned first and fitted with road rails. She also requested that the constructors correct confusing road markings.
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