BCM goes round in circles
Oxford/Fleet intersection traffic lights may be removed after all
The traffic circle at the bottom of Oxford Street might be making a comeback despite having been removed earlier this year.
Last month Buffalo City Metro said the circle would be replaced by a set of traffic lights.
“The circle at the bottom of Oxford Street will be replaced by traffic lights to ease up the flow on Fleet Street, especially traffic coming from the West Bank side and Gilwell Mall,” spokesperson Bathandwa Diamond said at the time.
This formed part of ongoing road works along Fleet Street and Oxford Street, which were re-launched last year by BCM mayor Xola Pakati.
But on Wednesday BCM spokesman Samkelo Ngwenya told the Dispatch that both traffic lights and the circle were still being considered as options.
“Like many cities around the world, Buffalo City is experiencing rapid growth with congestion becoming a strain.
“So ultimately, the main longterm issue is the fact that Buffalo City has an obligation to explore and consider all traffic congestion alleviating factors including alternative transport modes and traffic parking systems,” he said.
“This is the case in Oxford and Fleet streets and the reason the department concerned is still considering the effect of both [the circle and traffic lights] on the road users.
“Ultimately a decision is to be made in the interest of road users.”
The spokesperson would not comment on the cost of the traffic lights and did not answer why the circle was removed if both options were still being considered.
In the first half of this year Diamond told the Dispatch that the construction and rehabilitation of Fleet Street from Currie Street to Pontoon Road was costing the metro R128.3m.
When the Dispatch visited the site on Wednesday there were no construction workers to be seen.
Eight traffic lights still stood on the corners of the intersection, some with black bags covering the never-used signals.
A strip of yellow construction barriers cutting through Fleet Street indicated that there was still work to be done.
The long-standing roadworks in the area have been a sore point for many East London residents.
Earlier this year Mongezi Sabi, a taxi driver in the area, told the Dispatch: “This [roadworks] is the norm.
“Every mid-year the municipality wants to fix this road and this will continue right till December and even next year.
“I hope they can just finish it and move on to other roads that also need attention in the city.”