Monday 14 September 2015
Media Enquiry from Guernsey Press:
Readers have got in touch with us to express their concerns about the traffic lights at the Mount Row/Ville Au Roi junction.
It understood they have not been working properly and at times switched off while work is carried out in the area, raising worries about potential accidents.
Is the Environment Department aware of problems with the these traffic lights?
Does it know the cause of the problem?
What is being done to fix it? When is it being fixed?
Will the lights be replaced - if so at what cost?
Environment Department Response:
The Environment Department would like to apologise for the on-going issues with the Mount Row traffic signals.
All the Island's signals have been programmed to take into account traffic flows at the various junctions. The lights are also fitted with vehicle detection to change the lights if there is no opposing demand and to extend phases if traffic is approaching the signals and there is no opposing demand. The detection also gives priority to certain traffic flows by using filter arrows.
On 27 July 2015, the Department received a report that the lights were changing quickly between phases. A local engineer visited and discovered that the signal controller unit had defaulted to its factory settings. The lights were reset and checked and were working correctly. On 11th August 2015, a similar issue was reported with the signals. An engineer once again visited and, at the time of his visit, the lights were working correctly. However, the engineer noted there may be an intermittent fault and organised the replacement of internal boards used to control the phasing of the lights. These were changed on 17th August when the signals were already scheduled to be turned off for roadworks at the junction.
Unfortunately, over the August bank holiday weekend, the signals once again faulted. After a failed reset, the lights were switched off and filter in turn signs placed out at the junction.
Due to the complexity of the signals, the matter has now been referred to Siemens. An engineer from Siemens visited the Island on Friday 5th September. Unfortunately, during his visit, the signals were operating correctly and it was not possible to trace the fault. The engineer changed another one of the internal boards and the lights were switched back on. This failed to resolve the problem, which reoccurred over the weekend, and the signals were once again turned off on Monday.
Siemens have been undertaking various tests since this time. Further onsite tests will be carried out tomorrow.
The Department apologises for the inconvenience being caused to motorists and pedestrians and requests that users take extra care while using the junction until the fault with the signals can be resolved.
Contact Information:
Kevin Lesbirel, Senior Traffic Services Officer
Environment Department
Tel: 243400
