City to replace traffic lights at 22 intersections

Nokuthula Dube

THE Harare City Council (HCC) has begun replacing traffic lights at 22 intersections across the city to improve traffic flow.

The project is being rolled out in two phases, with the first one, which is set for completion by the end of May, prioritising eight key intersections.

HCC town clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango said initially the project will address malfunctioning traffic lights at the Samora Machel Avenue intersections with First Street; Simon Vengai Muzenda Street; Seventh Street and Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Road.

Traffic lights at the intersections of Julius Nyerere Way with Kenneth Kaunda Road, as well as Robert Mugabe Road, are also set for a revamp. The intersection of Robert Mugabe Road and Rekai Tangwena Avenue will also have new traffic lights.

“We paid $1,4 billion for controllers, which cover only eight intersection signal heads.

‘‘Controllers are waiting for delivery,” said Eng Chisango.

“We started assembling the equipment at the workshop   . . .  and then we will go into the field. We are targeting that by mid-May we will be done with the first batch.”

The council’s initial focus, he said, will be on eight intersections, excluding those where the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development is already involved in road rehabilitation projects.

“There are also repairs and upgrades for the SADC (Southern African Development Community) Summit, where we are targeting to upgrade traffic lights at 44 intersections,” he said.

“There are also major upgrade targets that are supposed to be done by June 30, and after fixing everything, the focus will be on public street lighting.”

The council’s head of corporate communications, Mr Stanley Gama, said the city was expecting delivery of the rest of the components “in a few weeks”.

He also said the council was exploring the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at intersections to deter vandalism and ensure the longevity of the new traffic lights.