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Joburg Faces Rising Costs in Fight Against Traffic Light Vandalism
The City of Johannesburg is grappling with escalating costs to repair vandalized traffic lights, now reaching up to R300,000 per unit. This sharp increase is driven by efforts to make the infrastructure more resistant to damage as syndicates continue to target copper wiring in traffic signals.
Rising Costs and Widespread Damage
With over 2,000 intersections relying on traffic signals, vandalism has emerged as a major challenge. According to Joburg Mayor Dada Morero, traffic lights at 250 intersections have been damaged, disrupting traffic flow across the metro.
“To address these issues, the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) is prioritizing the repair of 17 critical provincial intersections,” Morero stated. He added that the remaining sites would be tackled based on available budget allocations.
New Measures to Protect Traffic Signals
Sipho Nhlapo, head of mobility and freight at the JRA, explained that the cost of repairs has surged due to new protective measures.
“We are now placing cables underground, making them harder to reach. We’re also reinforcing them with cement and concrete. What used to cost R100,000 to fix now requires between R200,000 and R300,000,” Nhlapo said.
Given the financial strain and the impact on road safety, the city has pledged to prioritize intersections with faulty traffic signals to ease congestion and improve mobility for motorists.
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Sourced:EWN
