REPAIRS to the damaged road light at Houston, East Bank of Demerara, will cost approximately $450, 000, according to Traffic Safety Engineer in the Ministry of Public Works, Mr. Nigel Erskine. He said this information has already been forwarded to the Police Traffic Department which, reportedly, knows the person who caused the accident that resulted in the damage.
The errant motorist, in accordance with the law, is required to make full repayment for restoration of public property, Erskine reminded.
That is in addition to whatever charges will be instituted on the perpetrator by the Police.
A picture of the broken light pole lying on the parapet was published in yesterday’s issue of this newspaper.
Erskine said it has been observed that most such damage to road lights along the East Bank Demerara highway occurs especially at weekends or during some heightened entertainment activity.
He repeated an appeal to motorists participating in any such activities to take extra care and observe the rules when using the roadway and reminded that installation of the lights was done to enhance the safety of road users.
Erskine said the Ministry has retained a maintenance contractor whose responsibility is to ensure that road lights along the entire stretch of the East Bank Demerara highway are operational.
Additionally, he pointed out that the Ministry, in collaboration with the Police, also has to deal with persistent destruction of traffic lights in Georgetown, by errant motorists.
Erskine said, with the installation of the lights, some amount of order was restored in the city but breaching of signals still remains a main cause for concern.
Meanwhile, a countrywide survey of all street and road lights on public roadways is ongoing, Electrical Engineer in the Ministry, Mr. Terrence O’Brien disclosed in a telephone interview.
He said the exercise is to determine which fall under the purview of the Ministry or the respective Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).
O’Brien said officers have already completed work in Bartica, on East Coast and East Bank Demerara, West Bank Demerara and the Essequibo Island of Leguan.
Asked about the continued non-functioning of the traffic light at Mandela Avenue and Vlissengen Road, he said it ceased to operate following a traffic accident which the disrupted power supply from the utility pole.
However, with the recent awarding of contracts to companies who will act as maintenance engineers, O’Brien assured that some improvement will be seen shortly.
He said the traffic lights at the corner of High and Hadfield Streets, which were switched off to facilitate works by Guyana Water Inc. will be operational, again, in another two days.
O’Brien also hinted at a new and comprehensive programme that will see traffic regulation in the entire Camp Street restructured.