Traffic lights
ensure smooth delivery
By Nangamso Mabindla
04 June 2007
NEW traffic lights on the busy Settler's Way and Chester Road leading to the East London Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) will make it easier for its tenants to deliver products to their clients on time, says the zone's chairman, Zolile Tini.
Tini was speaking at the official switching on of the lights on Friday, 1 June. They were installed under a partnership between Buffalo City and the IDZ.
"The purpose of the zone is to help grow the city by bringing investment; this in turn will create employment. The switching on of these lights will go a long way towards ensuring that the zone delivers on its mandate," he said.
Simphiwe Kondlo, the IDZ's chief executive, echoed Tini's sentiments, saying that the event was significant for the city and zone. "We have managed to turn this greenfield site into a world-class industrial estate and Chester Road was constructed for easy access to the zone."
He said that it would be easier and faster for the automotive suppliers using the Automotive Supplier Park (ASP) to supply parts to DaimlerChrysler.
"Some investors in the zone are suppliers to the original equipment manufacturer and with these lights operating at this intersection, it will be easier for them to deliver on time, and thus ensure that DaimlerChrysler reaches its targets as well."
Without the lights it would have been difficult for the IDZ's tenants to help the car manufacturer to meet its targets.
"What is critical is that these traffic lights are syncronised with the others on Settler's Way; that means that once trucks from suppliers on the ASP are on Settler's Way, all the lights will be green, allowing them to reach the plant in 13 minutes," he added.
Kondlo said that if the lights were not syncronised, the flow of goods from the zone to the Daimler plant would be affected. "If the suppliers are delayed, even by a few minutes, then the line will have to stop and wait for the goods to arrive. The car manufacturer might lose at least five cars in the process. So having these lights sycronised is crucial."
Councillor Nomhizana Sityi took the opportunity to pledge the City's support of the development zone.
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