Are the Council giving us the runaround?

chasm

Hi Guys,
Dont know if anyone read in the local papers this week that "Leitrim Co Council roads staff have agreed there could be merit in a recent motion put forward.. to reverse the traffic flow down the one way street system through carrick on Shannon"
The motion called "for traffic to be directed from the bridge up bridge street and main street and out on to the N4 Dublin road as suggested during a recent meeting of Ck-on-Shannon Chamber of Commerce."

Now this idea seems ridiculous to me. Most of the highly populated areas of the town are at the end of the main street area (St Pat's Park, Breffni Cres/heights ,Shannon Grove, lis Cara, Summerhill,Oaklands, Aughameeney ++). Now all these people would be expected to drive out the Dulin road to the MINI roandabout at the bridge and then go up the town. Surely this would cause serious tailbacks on the bridge and out the N4 to Sligo? I vaguely recall it being mentioned before that the present one way system was devised( and the supposed new carrick bypass, if it ever happens) to ease traffic on the Bridge;but if this reversal of the one way system goes ahead i think the congestion in the town will increase.

Supposedly many traders in the area felt that changing the flow of traffic would increase business in the main street area- Oh yes thats going to happen when they are directing the residents of the estates in the town out the N4-to Tesco!
I dont know if many of you guys live/shop/visit carrick but what do you think-
Good? Bad?or Couldnt care less?

patpark121

I haven't seen the article as i rarely if ever get the local rag anymore. but....
I don't think this will happen. If the traffic is reversed are they going to only keep the old bypass open for heavy goods?
Jesus wept it only takes about 10 - 15 cars at the minute at that small roundabout to cause a tailback up bridge street to the PO, & those traffic lights when they do work only add to the mayhem. Sure there are the delivery trucks & light vans that have to come into town, but i doubt even the biggest head in cloudland failed to recognise the tailbacks especially at 3 o clock when the primary schools finish. Anyone who knows Carrick knows the pain in the tail end this is as both sides of the road are clogged & the knock on to the main roundabout. Traffic will undoubtably increase with the reversal & hey you'll get a chance to shop as the car will not have moved an inch by the time you're finished......

As for normal traffic if the council & local chambers & the traders themselves are worried about the future of local business, the first thing they can revisit is the rates in the town. Also look at that big space of empty retail/commercial units out the Dublin road. If the council & local chambers were serious about helping traders could they not strike a deal with the landlord/owner & facilitate a transfer out to these shamefully under utilised developments. For lease will be on those signs for years to come....Also look at that fine building the Mulvey centre. OK it's in Roscommon jurisdiction but i doubt this would be a hurdle if the right incentives were on offer across the board.

I fear if a major & well structered plan is not developed for Carricks future & it relys on off the cuff notions like this traffic flow measure, then when the new bypass is completed, the town could be likened to Dromod or Roosky now. Handy when you were going through it but unless you live in it completely avoidable. This is by no means an insult to these areas but a bit of foresight as opposed to hindsight that is so common in the decision making process.

chasm

Thankfully the council have seen sense and are not going to go ahead with this plan:)
From shannonside website:

Plans to change the flow of traffic in Carrick-on-Shannon won't go ahead.

It follows calls on the Leitrim County Council to consider changing the traffic flow in the town to allow motorists coming from Sligo to travel through Bridge Street and Main Street.

Following a special meeting of the local authority's Transport Committee, chairperson Enda Stenson says they decided such a move would, in fact, cause greater congestion.

Instead an extra lane will be made when turning left at the roundabout at Coffey's Corner.

Councillor Stenson explains the second measure being considered to ease traffic problems in the town