KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Works Agency (NWA) says that for the second time in less than five months traffic signals along the Mandela Highway has been rendered inoperable by vandals.

According to Manager, Communication and Customer Services at the NWA, Stephen Shaw the traffic signals, which are located near the entrance to the North/South highway, were discovered to be out of operation yesterday (January 2).

He said that an assessment of the infrastructure at the location revealed that signal cables, which operate the lights, had been burnt.

Shaw explained that the fire also destroyed the pull box which housed the cables, the traffic signal cabinet and parts of the mast arms on which the lights are situated.

He estimated that repairs will cost some $1.25 million; however a timeline for the repairs has not yet been determined.

Towards the end of summer last year, the NWA said it had to respond to a spate of incidents in which traffic signals were put out of service at various locations in the Corporate Area due to the actions of vandals or people of unsound mind.