Traffic light problems

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32459, 20 November 1970, Page 1

Traffic light problems

Electronic noise and a shortage of vital electronic components have been causing difficulties with some Christchurch traffic-lights systems.

Problems have occurred with the master controller for the Christchurch one-way streets system, and with the provision of linked traffic lights at the interactions of Bealey Avenue and Manchester Street, and Sherborne Street.

The Christchurch City Council’s traffic engineering department was worried about the situation, and had been “very disappointed” with the recent performance of the one-way system master controller, the traffic engineer (Mr M. L. Gadd) said yesterday. “But we hope that the difficulties will be overcome very soon.”

In the one-way system there had been a series of faults in the master controller which had meant the “green wave” flow system had not been working at times, Mr Gadd said.

Most of the trouble was caused by “electronic noise” —a type of high frequency interference in the power supply which could trip circuits at the wrong time. In fact, North Island and Australian experts working on the problem said the area was one of the worst for electronic noise that they had encountered possibly because of the concentration of industry. Another troublesome factor had been the difficulty of obtaining certain vital electronic components for the system, Mr Gadd said. There was a world-wide shortage of some types of electronic component—a result of today’s high demand for electronic equipment—and this had compounded the [difficulties with the signal i systems. Electronic noise and component shortages were also the main factors in the deilay in providing traffic sig- ; nals at the intersection of I Manchester Street and Bealey Avenue. Standards for the signal lamps have been in I place for almost a year, and I have even been damaged in ; accidents at the intersection. ; The Manchester - Bealey ! lights would be linked with new lights at the intersection of Sherborne Street and Bealey Avenue, and with the present Colombo-Bealey lights, Mr Gadd said. “We hope that they will be in and working before Christmas.” Meanwhile, new sets of traffic lights have been installed in the second one-way pair of streets at the Cashel Street-Madras Street and Cashel Street - Barbadoes Street intersections. The Barbadoes Street lights were working yesterday, and the Madras Street signals will be switched on within a few days.