The National Works Agency (NWA) is, early in the New Year, having to once again treat with incidences of vandalized traffic signals in the Corporate Area. For the second time, in less than five months, one of the traffic signals along the Mandela Highway has been rendered inoperable by vandals.
According to Manager, Communication and Customer Services at the NWA, Stephen Shaw the traffic signals, which are located near the entrance to the North/South highway, were discovered to be out of operation yesterday (January 2). He says an assessment of the infrastructure at the location revealed that signal cables, which operate the lights, had been burnt.
Mr. Shaw explains that the fire also destroyed the pull box which housed the cables, the traffic signal cabinet and parts of the mast arms on which the lights are situated. He estimates that repairs will cost some $1.25 million dollars; however a timeline for the repairs has not yet been determined.
The NWA is reminding motorists that the affected traffic signals also accommodate pedestrian lights therefore they should be on the lookout for and yield to persons attempting to cross the roadway.
Towards the end of summer last year, the NWA had to respond to a spate of incidences in which traffic signals were put out of service at various locations in the Corporate Area due to the malicious actions of vandals or persons of unsound mind. Repairs, in some instances, had to be effected multiple times, at some locations, due to repeat interference with signal equipment.
The cost of emergency repairs to the affected traffic signals had then ran into several million dollars.
