Another stroke of genius of Rivers Governor Odili. A new traffic control era begins in Port Harcourt.

Port Harcourt commissions Nigeria’s most efficient and modern traffic control system with UPS power-bridging support for continuous operation thus increasing the average operational availability from 45% to 96%. Developed and installed by ASTAC.

Port Harcourt (dm). On Tuesday, May 30th, 2006, his Excellency, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Sir Dr. Peter Odili, commissioned Phase II of the Port Harcourt Traffic Light Project comprising of another 31 junctions installed, maintained and operated by ASTAC. These junctions complement the existing 32 junctions of Phase I which were installed by ASTAC Nigeria Limited in 2000.

In Nigeria, with power supply reaching less than 45 per cent average per day, any infrastructure project, especially such essential installations like traffic control systems, where continuity is of highest importance, are being turned useless. Phase I, still a conventional traffic light system, only reaches an availability of less than 45 per cent due to lack of power supply or damages due to erratic power supply.

As a consequence of above, ASTAC, an indigenous Nigerian company, has again proofed its innovative capabilities and has developed, together with three Austrian companies, a solution that fits the requirements of the Nigerian environment and provides - for the first time ever in the country - continuous traffic control for the urban population.

Made possible only by the latest (third) generation of low-consumption, very bright LED signal heads (available only since about one year), the system integrates a low voltage controller and a UPS system of the latest technology. With these components integrated into one system, it is possible to bridge Nigeria’s common ‘power cuts’ for 30 to 60 hours, depending on the number of installed signal heads.

After only six months of operation the new system - a truly Austrian/Nigerian development - has already proofed extremely well boosting operational availability from approximately only 43 per cent of the conventional system to more than 96 per cent instantly. Also, maintenance cost could be reduced as the electronic equipment is better protected by the UPS system and damages of electronic components are reduced to a minimum.Due to this fact and the reduced power consumption of less than 10 per cent of a conventional junction, the additional cost for the UPS and LED equipment pays back in less than half of the expected system life cycle.

ASTAC highly appreciates the Government’s foresight and fast decision on choosing ASTAC’s new solution which is designed to last long and operate continuously for the entire life time of the system. The entire development was not only focussing on performance but also on durability and maintenance aspects. The components have been carefully selected and are state-of-the-art technology. All parts have been secured against environmental impacts and theft/vandalism in a new manner and ASTAC’s engineers and specialists are permanently carrying out preventive maintenance and repairs to keep the system up and running permanently.

All controllers are linked via CSD wireless connections to a central surveillance system in ASTAC’s office to permanently overview the junctions status and to report errors and damages immediately to the intervention teams which attend to it immediately.

Because of the tremendous improvement resulting from this new solution by ASTAC, the Government of Rivers State has already stated its interest in upgrading the existing conventional system to the new Phase II standard as well as further expanding the traffic control system to more areas in urban Port Harcourt and all around the state.

ASTAC Nig. Ltd. is Nigeria’s leading traffic engineering and transportation planning company and has installed more than 164 junctions nationwide, e.g. the entire traffic light system (85 junctions) in Nigeria’s capital Abuja (in operation for more than 14 years), the entire traffic light system in Port Harcourt (63 junctions), 9 harmonised and synchronised junctions along Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos and and further 7 junctions in Lagos Central Business District, Lagos Island, just to name some highlights. ASTAC has been active in the country for more than 23 years and is headed by its founder, the Austrian Dr. Anton Mimra.

Rivers State Governor Sir Dr. Peter Odili at the

commissioning ceremony in Port Harcourt on 30/05/06.