The sources said the traffic lights will be switched to amber between tomorrow and Saturday in order to establish how the traffic flows without the lights.

However, if the need arises, the monitoring will continue next week before a final decision is taken.

Similar traffic management exercises conducted on site in the past, ever since the traffic lights were installed, have all shown that the traffic flows better, faster and with less confusion when the roundabout had no traffic lights.

The sources said the decision to conduct this exercise was taken after the traffic management directorate received reports that traffic flowed better without the lights.

The traffic lights will be turned amber at peak times tomorrow, Friday and Saturday. The latter day was included to see the impact of no traffic lights on traffic flowing through the area during part of the weekend.

The traffic will be monitored between 7am and 9am and again between 4.30pm and 6.30pm, when most workers would be on their way to work or going back home.

The sources said the monitoring exercise will take into consideration the time drivers spend waiting for the lights to change to green, the movements around the roundabout and also the aspect of safety. The roundabout, dubbed the “Christmas Tree Roundabout” because of so many flashing lights, was under fire when the authorities installed them about five years ago.

Back then, the justification for their installation was that such measures are used in other countries, such as the United Kingdom. In fact, the system was designed by a UK consultancy firm.

The authorities had also said that the traffic lights served as a traffic calming measure.

The police and wardens have already been informed about the monitoring exercise and they will be there to ensure safety and the smooth-running of the traffic.