The Upper East Regional capital, Bolgatanga, is witnessing a major paradigm shift in its road traffic situation as properly functioning ultra-modern traffic terminals are installed at every major intersection in the capital.
Until recently, Bolgatanga had its traffic terminals going defunct, a situation that was largely blamed on the obsolete state of the traffic terminals while streetlights along the major streets of the township went dead for several months. Though there have been regular repairs of the virtually irredeemable street light and traffic installations, the electronic facilities hardly functioned for a week without going dead.
The undesirable development sparked a wave of protest and birthed a media campaign for the regional capital to be lit. Residents raised issues of insecurity and threatened safety on the township roads.
Road users, especially motorists, had a hectic time crossing intersections and manipulating their way at roundabouts that had faulty traffic lights or none at all.
Now though, road users are excited that the traffic lights have been put in place to make the roads safer and easier to use.
“I think the government has done well. The traffic light here is helping. Since the traffic was put here some weeks ago, we have not had an accident. Motors were knocking down people here. But we thank God,” motorist at the stadium junction traffic lights told Dreamzonline.com.
At the Hospital Roundabout, a nurse recounted how difficult it was to use the roundabout without the traffic lights:
“Crossing from the GBC side to the hospital side was difficult. Sometimes you will wait forever. And it was very dangerous,” she said.
Residents of the capital used to complain about the few traffic lights that broke down quite regularly, but these faulty ones have all been replaced and others installed at new intersections.
Many users who interacted with this reporter are full of praise for the Government for fixing the traffic lights but are demanding that they fix some of the roads that lead to sprawling suburbs such as Yikene and Soe.
