THE FIRST SMART TRAFIC LIGHT SYSTEM WAS LAUCHED ON THURSDAY IN LINDEN.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Traffic and Highway Lights Department commissioned a Smart Traffic Light System at the Mckenzie/Wismar Bridge in Linden, Region 10 on Thursday and it is the first in the country of Guyana.

Smart traffic lights or intelligent traffic lights are a vehicle traffic control system that combines traditional traffic lights with an array of sensors and artificial intelligence to intelligently route vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

Attending the launch was Regional Chairman of Region 10, Renis Morian, Mayor of Linden Corwyn Holland, the Head of McKenzie Bridge, Emmett Alves, Nigel Butts the electrical Engineer- MOPI, Representatives from the Guyana Police Force and a number of staff members of the RDC and Mayors office.

In his opening remarks Regional Chairman Renis Morian said “any system or process that will enhance life in region 10 we welcome. Most of all, the safety of our people who will traverse this bridge.” The Regional Chairman also called on the Management of the bridge to retain the staff who are hired and not send them home now that the traffic lights are now fully computerized.

Meanwhile Mayor of Linden Corwyn Holland thanked the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and by extension the Government of Guyana for keeping its promises… I am very happy on behalf of the Linden Mayor and Town Council and the people of Linden for this very simple but significant development of this traffic light system.” Mayor Holland went on to state that..” the cry has been for months and months about the traffic at the bridge that persons were waiting for hours and hours. But I am happy that this small but significant step being taken to have the lights working.”

Head of the Mckenzie Bridge Emmett Alves said.. the process for installing the traffic lights had started way back even before the Ministry of Public Infrastructure was renamed. He went on to state that they were discussions with the Ministry of Works under the former PPP/C Administration. “ So it was a long process but finally we have achieved our objectives.  Alves went on to state that the Mckenzie bridge is a very important link within the country of Guyana. “ It enables us to get to many parts into the interior and we taught it fit that persons utilizing the bridge will cross in a safe manner because the traffic lights will enable such.

Nigel Butts the Electrical Engineer within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Traffic and Highway Lights Department stated “ we from the traffic lights team worked tirelessly to ensure Linden is equipped with the first modern traffic light system which will entail a proper discharge of a traffic light system.”

Cutting the ribbon which also see the immediate switching on of the smart traffic light system was Rudolph Whittaker who served over a decade with the Linmine Secretariat and who manages the Mckenzie Bridge. Immediately traffic began to flow in an orderly manner.  The system uses a series of wires embedded into two camera at both ends of the bridge that tells the signals how much traffic is moving through on the bridge. When traffic is on both sides of the bridge it turns red at both ends and about 10 seconds later signals green at one end for over a minute until the last vehicle leaves the bridge before the other end turns green.

According to the Engineer Butts it cost over $3m Guyana dollars for the smart Traffic Light system. Georgetown is not left out, for Kitty will soon have a smart Traffic light system. also the East Coast and West Bank.