The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has partnered with Sasol, Nedbank, and Growthpoint Properties to keep traffic lights operational at key intersections in and around Sandton City during load-shedding, which has been billed as the “richest square mile in Africa.”
This follows several other private organisations joining the JRA’s Traffic Signal Backup Power Initiative to keep traffic signals up and running at important locations, including Investec which also operates in Sandton, Vodacom which is responsible for Midrand, and MTN which took several intersections in Soweto under its wing.
“The increased support of the initiative stems from the project’s positive impact on traffic flow and the overall business district environment,” said the JRA.
“An additional six corporate adoptions are currently in line to be connected and tested in the coming weeks, a testament to the traction the initiative has garnered in the community.”
The agency noted before that businesses, schools, and “even NGOs” are willing to join its cause.
Who controls what?
Starting this August, the three newcomers to the Traffic Signal Backup Power Initiative will be responsible for keeping the traffic signals powered at the following crossings:
- Growthpoint – Grayston Drive and Fifth Street
- Nedbank – Fredman Drive and Rivonia Road
- Sasol – Katherine Street and Pybus Road
Soon, Sasol said it will also be adding support for the intersection at Albertyn and Wierda Road East, though it didn’t confirm when this will happen.
The organisations will maintain power flow by connecting their backup electricity systems to the nearest traffic light, allowing it to kick in almost immediately after the electricity has gone out. In the case of MTN in Soweto, it’s using the power storage systems from its cellular towers to do so.
To make the system work as planned, the JRA also had to redesign and upgrade the signal wiring of the intersections in question.
This allows a quick transition from the grid to the backup source, thus maintaining smooth traffic flow and increasing the safety of motorists traveling these particular roads during periods of load-shedding.
“The City is benefitting economically as improved traffic signal reliability reduces congestions, increases productivity, and also improves safety from fewer accidents are previously dead intersections,” said JRA acting CEO Zweli Nyathi.
Keyword: Sasol will now keep the traffic lights on in South Africa’s richest city