Traffic lights in Drogheda are a joke!

southlouth type

To_be_confirmed wrote: »

I really don't think it's appropriate to treat the route between Dublin and Belfast as a western relief road of Drogheda. Better to build a bridge for traffic from Mell to the Rathmullen Road (and keep the M1 as a PPP rather than spending tens of millions in compensation for taking the tolls off the Donore road junction) - but that's a separate issue.

I think the lights at the bottom of Patrick St. were never necessary, there's not a huge amount of traffic that must use it purely to access nearby residences and I've never seen a massive buildup of traffic there. Also, the yellow box almost acted as a relief for traffic to get out whenever the lights outside Fusion nightclub/Dominic's were red.

Why is it not appropriate ? What harm would it do ? As the op has stated its done in dublin all the time time and dosent seem to have any adverse effect . I would love to be able to pop over the boyne cable bridge to get to the other side of town and not be charged for the privilege like lots of other people in towns and cities across the country .

CMpunked

EI8GHB wrote: »

Think, for instance, of how much the situation at the Bull Ring would be relieved by a right turn off Dublin Road before Scotch Hall, say for instance opposite the entrance to St. Mary's Hospital. A bridge to the north quay would take a heap of traffic off that filter lane outside St. Mary's Church trying to turn right onto St. Mary's Bridge, thus alleviating also Mary Street traffic.

Great idea.
However, how do you tackle the 20 foot drop down on the right approaching the town on the dub road?
Or how do you decide to tell the people your demilishing their houses who live there?
I do believe there should be a bridge there to the east of scotch hall. Wasn't there supposed to be on the other side of the surface car park? Whatever came of that?

EI8GHB

However, how do you tackle the 20 foot drop down on the right approaching the town on the dub road?
Or how do you decide to tell the people your demilishing their houses who live there?

There is a plan for a bridge there already. I believe modern engineering can overcome 20-foot drops and in addition I think the plan (which was part of Scotch Hall phase 2, to include the infamous 27-storey tower) envisaged a bridge spanning the river from Dublin Road to North Quay which did not necessitate the destruction of anyone's home as far as I can recall . . .

However, this proposal is a PPP project and without the private funding, and indeed with council funding in short supply, it looks unlikely that such a bridge will be built anytime soon.

kormak

CMpunked wrote: »

Great idea.
However, how do you tackle the 20 foot drop down on the right approaching the town on the dub road?
Or how do you decide to tell the people your demilishing their houses who live there?
I do believe there should be a bridge there to the east of scotch hall. Wasn't there supposed to be on the other side of the surface car park? Whatever came of that?

and to top that off... the town's view of the Viaduct would be ruined forever!

EI8GHB

and to top that off... the town's view of the Viaduct would be ruined forever!

But think of the view of the Viaduct you would get from the new bridge!!

CMpunked

EI8GHB wrote: »

There is a plan for a bridge there already. I believe modern engineering can overcome 20-foot drops and in addition I think the plan (which was part of Scotch Hall phase 2, to include the infamous 27-storey tower)

First off i was very tired when i wrote my initial post there so i apologise if i come across as a condescending d!ck.
But i thought you meant a bridge should be erected coming off the dublin road.

But there really should be a bridge put here going across the river:
http://g.co/maps/x5zum

lucernarian

southlouth type wrote: »

Why is it not appropriate ? What harm would it do ? As the op has stated its done in dublin all the time time and dosent seem to have any adverse effect . I would love to be able to pop over the boyne cable bridge to get to the other side of town and not be charged for the privilege like lots of other people in towns and cities across the country .

It's a motorway because it's interlinking two major cities, not just because drogheda "needed a bypass". Look at Athlone, the bypass is still a dual carriageway despite the rest of the route from Dub - Gal being a motorway. It's a road that's got lots of oncoming traffic which then leaves at the next exit, sometimes with tractors using it and learner drivers and so on. That sort of traffic cannot legally use a motorway.

The M50 was envisaged rather like the M25 in London which is primarily still surrounded by countryside and used to link traffic going from one motorway coming out of London, to another. The M50 was almost swallowed up by surrounding communities quickly so that's precisely why there's the likes of that outer orbital route (the R136 road going from Tallaght to Lucan) to deal with the local traffic. Not just shove it onto a road built for a totally different purpose.

This topic is better discussed in the Infrastructure/Roads forum, there are far better experts than I who could explain this in detail.

And I certainly disagree with removing an effective way to pay for the borrowings on building our country's road network. I think the plans for a bridge at Rathmullen/Mell should have been prioritised though.

furiousox

Anyone else notice the traffic heading out of town is now tailing back from the Southgate lights to Stameen since Monday (around 8.45am)?
It looks like they've done something to the lights sequence at Southgate.
You can see the lights changing to red every 2-3 mins even though there is no-one waiting to enter or exit the Southgate car park! :mad:
I'm gonna send in an email to the council for what it's worth.....

delly

furiousox wrote: »

Anyone else notice the traffic heading out of town is now tailing back from the Southgate lights to Stameen since Monday (around 8.45am)?
It looks like they've done something to the lights sequence at Southgate.
You can see the lights changing to red every 2-3 mins even though there is no-one waiting to enter or exit the Southgate car park! :mad:
I'm gonna send in an email to the council for what it's worth.....

You probably already know, but in case not, that would be to Meath county council.

furiousox

Spoke to the offices in Duleek, the engineer wasn't available but they took some details and promised to look into it.

blingrhino

according to the D.i Today ,they are going to install another set of traffic lights at the boyne valley hotel area.
obviously this will be the one that gets them into the guinness book of records- i.e traffic lights per 3 mile radius:rolleyes:

Dingatron

blingrhino wrote: »

according to the D.i Today ,they are going to install another set of traffic lights at the boyne valley hotel area.
obviously this will be the one that gets them into the guinness book of records- i.e traffic lights per 3 mile radius:rolleyes:

In fairness it's a nightmare to get out of there.

gebbel

Yeah it's a farce alright....driving into Drogheda every night this week around 11pm and the lights at Southgate centre go red....to allow non-existent cars to exit. On my own yesterday with nobody around and obviously no danger to anybody...I just slowed down and drove right through them.

Lord TSC

I won't mind the Boyne valley ones if they are sensor based like up at Southgate...

furiousox

It appears the Southgate lights aren't sensor based anymore.
They seem to be on a timed sequence now and go red even when there's no traffic waiting to enter/exit Southgate.
Outbound traffic tailing back to Stameen again this morning. :mad:

Dingatron

I sat through two sets of light sequences with not one car coming out of Southgate this evening heading towards Drogheda. The tailback was onto the roundabout. I'll be in touch with Meath CC too.

kormak

I think it's time for this issue to be highlighted with some local journalists...
There's clearly something else at play. No way could they put this down to "a necesssary evil" or quite simply bad planning...
apart of the unnecessary location of some of these lights, the sequencing is simply ludicrous at certain junctions per time of day...

Yesterday evening at rush hour, trying to turn right from Fair St on to Georges St with several people stuck in the yellow box and the traffic backing up from the new lights at Patrick St....
I actually near had a Michael Douglas falling down moment!! :pac:

furiousox

Dingatron wrote: »

I sat through two sets of light sequences with not one car coming out of Southgate this evening heading towards Drogheda. The tailback was onto the roundabout. I'll be in touch with Meath CC too.

Phone number is 041 9880700 for anyone who needs it.

furiousox

Noticed Serco working on the lights at Southgate today.
Hopefully things will improve.

andrew1977

furiousox wrote: »

Noticed Serco working on the lights at Southgate today.
Hopefully things will improve.

Yes lets hope so, i was leaving Drogheda at 5.30am this morning, sat at red lights at southgate on red for a good while, 4 cars in the queue, not a sinner or sign of anyone coming out of southgate.:mad:

positron

I am skeptical of the entire road layout changes around South Gate. I don't think it's done for the benefit of the road users, but for the benefit of the shopping center rather. But there's no point going on about it, as it's only a gut feeling.

I don't understand how they can install new traffic lights at Boyne Valley hotel. I agree it's hard to come out of there, especially if you are turning into town, but how can you put another set of lights this close to the pedestrian crossing lights - it's just 20-30 meters away. May be they will merge these two somehow?

borderlinemeath

positron wrote: »

I am skeptical of the entire road layout changes around South Gate. I don't think it's done for the benefit of the road users, but for the benefit of the shopping center rather. But there's no point going on about it, as it's only a gut feeling.

I don't understand how they can install new traffic lights at Boyne Valley hotel. I agree it's hard to come out of there, especially if you are turning into town, but how can you put another set of lights this close to the pedestrian crossing lights - it's just 20-30 meters away. May be they will merge these two somehow?

It's the councils obsession with Traffic lights that really annoys me. There's so many junctions that have lights that would operate far better with roundabouts, (Duleek St/Platin Rd/Beamore Rd to name but one) and then there's junctions that need something that have nothing (Mell/Cement Rd junction)

We were coming out of Drogheda at about 11pm last week and approached the Southgate lights which were red and two cars sitting there waiting for nothing to come out of the closed shopping centre. OH went down the slip road into the car park and across and out through the filter on the other side. Ridiculous having to do it at all.

WindmillWarrior

Have they put a censor in the lights at the Dub rd/bryanstown cross junction? Used them a couple of times this week and they seemed to be behaving a lot better than usual!

kormak

spotted 2 SERCO engineers at the lights @ Southgate at Friday around lunchtime... they must 'ave heard the calls!

Dingatron

The lights appeared to be much better last night heading into Drogheda.

furiousox

No tailback this morning either.
Credit where credit's due, they seem to have sorted them out.

furiousox

So the road works have started at the Boyne Valley hotel entrance for (I presume) yet another set of traffic lights.
Temp lights are in place leading to traffic tailbacks in and out of town.
I wonder how long these works are going to take?
Also looking forward to the permanent tailbacks in and out of town when the traffic lights are installed and "working".
It makes perfect sense though, as there are lights at Scotch Hall, the train station, Bryanstown, Flogas and Southgate there's obviously not enough already! :mad:
Apparently they're being installed due to safety issues?
I'm not aware of any accidents there in the last year or two?
It's not that busy of a junction either, Wheaton Hall is probably busier.
Sure stick a set of lights there as well while you're at it! :rolleyes:

Lord TSC

Why would they put them at Stameen?

I could understand if thats what the works at The Boyne Valley were; moving the lights that are just by them going into town down to that entrance/exit would at least make some level of sense. But Stameen? Really?

furiousox

Sorry my mistake, I meant the Boyne Valley hotel entrance!

Shano81

furiousox wrote: »

Sorry my mistake, I meant the Boyne Valley hotel entrance!

I would assume they will be getting rid of the lights at Beaubec now? Weren’t they only put in when the post office opened in the black bull?

positron

^^^ yeah, it would make sense to remove the flogas/Beaubec lights if they have lights at Boyne Valley hotel entrance.

Years ago someone told me there was plan to put lights for Wheaton Hall, but it doesn't really make sense with the larger junction just meters away. But I think they should make the yellow painted area larger and more visible so that more cars heading out of Wheaton Hall towards town will have some chance to get on the road on busy hours. And I personally feel they could have done without the lights at Southgate, by making sure all traffic to Southgate takes the other entrance.

borderlinemeath

positron wrote: »

^^^ yeah, it would make sense to remove the flogas/Beaubec lights if they have lights at Boyne Valley hotel entrance.

Years ago someone told me there was plan to put lights for Wheaton Hall, but it doesn't really make sense with the larger junction just meters away. But I think they should make the yellow painted area larger and more visible so that more cars heading out of Wheaton Hall towards town will have some chance to get on the road on busy hours. And I personally feel they could have done without the lights at Southgate, by making sure all traffic to Southgate takes the other entrance.

Impossible given the planning and layout of the carpark. A possibility would have been a restriction on cars turning right (towards Drogheda) and making them go left down to the roundabout and turning there. The pavillions in Swords have a system like that and no need for lights.

Shano81

positron wrote: »

Years ago someone told me there was plan to put lights for Wheaton Hall, but it doesn't really make sense with the larger junction just meters away.

Long before that bryanstown road existed, there was talk of putting lights at wheaton hall. I think the residents may have objected to it! I’d say they’re sorry now as it’s a nightmare coming out of there turning right!

The new lights are only a few metres from the flogas lights – I very much doubt the flogas ones will be kept

kormak

At each traffic light on the Dublin Road... there should be a little teaser signs saying...
"Have you used the toll yet??" then... "Go on... use the toll, what's the point driving through ALL these traffic lights....", etc...

gipi

Shano81 wrote: »

Long before that bryanstown road existed, there was talk of putting lights at wheaton hall. I think the residents may have objected to it! I’d say they’re sorry now as it’s a nightmare coming out of there turning right!

Traffic lights for the Wheaton Hall junction was an election promise.....which was (funnily enough :rolleyes:) never fulfilled! Residents weren't asked whether we wanted them or not.

Once the Bryanstown lights went in, we were never going to get them!

Lord TSC

They may have been discussed before but the lights at Lidl (or is it Aldi) between the Bus Station and Argos drive me nuts. My recent routine has me driving from Marley's Lane down towards John's Shop/St. Mary's.

Coming down that road in the direction of the bus station, there's a right turn right at the Lidl. The road splits into two lanes, one to go straight and one to turn right. There's traffic lights to accommodate as well cause it's a busy enough junction. Only the lights never actually go green for the right turn. They just go the general green.

I know the rules here; that means I can go if there's no traffic approaching from the opposite direction. I pull up a bit, signal right and wait for the gap. But again I say, it's a busy junction, and there's been times where there is no gap. A car may sneak through once the lights have gone red again, and I've seen many cars just go because they are trapped in a no-mans land and it can be dangerous NOT to push through the red light. But I've also seen many a car stuck waiting for the green arrow to turn right that never appears, and it slows down traffic no end there.

positron

borderlinemeath wrote: »

[/B]
Impossible given the planning and layout of the carpark. A possibility would have been a restriction on cars turning right (towards Drogheda) and making them go left down to the roundabout and turning there. The pavillions in Swords have a system like that and no need for lights.

That sounds like a good idea. They could have done it better in many ways - I think slowing down everyone with that double roundabout and then lights are all for the benefit of the shopping center imho - capitalism over common sense etc.

Shano81

Lights now working at boyne valley. There is no pedestrian lights so would that indicate they’ll keep the ones at flo gas? Absolutely ridiculous.

The last 2 days, 4 cars have gone right through the pedestrian lights when red as I have crossed because of the lights at boyne valley ahead I presume. I’m going to start taking their number plates and reporting them to the guards and would encourage other to do the same if this keeps happening – very dangerous with pleanty of kids crossing at those lights

kormak

Not in any way condoning breaking red lights but people (drivers) are getting royally pissed off with more and more traffic lights in Drogheda. People are getting inpatient and rightly so... It's beyond a joke at this stage?!
A cute hoor move to push people out to the toll which is also being increased in the new year!
What I think is required is a collective message to Drogheda corporation to review the entire trafficlight situation in the town

positron

Yep, if the council intent to keep FloGas crossing as well as the new Boyne Valley signal, there would be work for some sort of vigilante vandals.. I am just saying!

Or may be they will work in sync - like they go red together and green together etc? Also I wonder if there's an issue with pedestrian crossing at Boyne valley signal as anyone walking across the road there would be hidden from the view of a southbound motorist because of the slight hill and slope of the road there.

kormak

Drogheda traffic lights in sync... HAHAHAHAHAHA *Maniacal laugh*

borderlinemeath

positron wrote: »

That sounds like a good idea. They could have done it better in many ways - I think slowing down everyone with that double roundabout and then lights are all for the benefit of the shopping center imho - capitalism over common sense etc.

The double roundabout has been a fantastic traffic calming measure at that junction whether it was for the benefit of the shopping centre or not. You used to take your life into your hands trying to pull out from my road (the road to platin/duleek) or if you were coming from the Colpe road/Grange Rath. While it was always a 60kph zone it was frequently ignored and practically impossible to pull out of those side roads.

Why they haven't used roundabouts for some of the other junctions that now have traffic lights is beyond me.

furiousox

As long as the lights are sensor based and only operate when there is actual traffic exiting the Boyne Valley it shouldn't be too bad.
If they're like the joke lights at Scotch Hall (which go red "for the craic" at 3.00 in the morning) it will be a nightmare.....again.
One thing I noticed this morning when leaving town, the traffic was stacked up heading into town and the traffic exiting the Boyne Valley and turning right had nowhere to go.
Cue more delays while they paint the yellow box they forgot to do in the first place.
Way to go Drogheda Council!

positron

borderlinemeath wrote: »

The double roundabout has been a fantastic traffic calming measure at that junction whether it was for the benefit of the shopping centre or not. You used to take your life into your hands trying to pull out from my road (the road to platin/duleek) or if you were coming from the Colpe road/Grange Rath. While it was always a 60kph zone it was frequently ignored and practically impossible to pull out of those side roads.

Why they haven't used roundabouts for some of the other junctions that now have traffic lights is beyond me.

Hmm, I see what you are saying, but could they not have achieved that with a one large roundabout? I just don't like how they have messed up with the width of the road there, and lanes appearing and disappearing, especially for cyclists.

borderlinemeath

positron wrote: »

Hmm, I see what you are saying, but could they not have achieved that with a one large roundabout? I just don't like how they have messed up with the width of the road there, and lanes appearing and disappearing, especially for cyclists.

If you look back at the planning of Southgate, there was a new road due to be built from the Southgate roundabout directly to the M1 junction at the Duleek Road/Platin Rd roundabout. Never went ahead but if you look there is a gate into the field there where it was meant to be. I'll have a root around and see can I find the link to it.

Shano81

kormak wrote: »

Not in any way condoning breaking red lights but people (drivers) are getting royally pissed off with more and more traffic lights in Drogheda. People are getting inpatient and rightly so...

Tough, they still shouldn’t be breaking pedestrian lights. It is very dangerous with pleanty of young kids,buggies,etc crossing at those lights. I can see an accident happening there very soon if it keeps up.

But you are right, it’s a joke having those 2 sets of lights so close together and very frustrating when driving

Lord TSC

borderlinemeath wrote: »

The double roundabout has been a fantastic traffic calming measure at that junction whether it was for the benefit of the shopping centre or not. You used to take your life into your hands trying to pull out from my road (the road to platin/duleek) or if you were coming from the Colpe road/Grange Rath. While it was always a 60kph zone it was frequently ignored and practically impossible to pull out of those side roads.

Why they haven't used roundabouts for some of the other junctions that now have traffic lights is beyond me.

Quote for ****ing truth.

Living in Grange Rath, I can't stress how great those roundabouts are. Used to take ages getting out onto the main road without them. I actually was involved in an accident there pre-roundabout that still causes me back problems to this day. Whatever the reason for their introduction, they are a godsend to everyone wanting to use those roads...

borderlinemeath

Teamshadowclan wrote: »

Quote for ****ing truth.

Living in Grange Rath, I can't stress how great those roundabouts are. Used to take ages getting out onto the main road without them. I actually was involved in an accident there pre-roundabout that still causes me back problems to this day. Whatever the reason for their introduction, they are a godsend to everyone wanting to use those roads...

I commuted to Dublin for a few years and routinely had to pull out of my road turning left (rather than directly towards Dublin) and do a U-turn at the Grange Rath/Colpe Rd. The other option was sit there for 10 mins waiting for a gap in the traffic or even drivers observing the speed limit. It just wasn't safe most of the time.

kormak

borderlinemeath wrote: »

If you look back at the planning of Southgate, there was a new road due to be built from the Southgate roundabout directly to the M1 junction at the Duleek Road/Platin Rd roundabout. Never went ahead but if you look there is a gate into the field there where it was meant to be. I'll have a root around and see can I find the link to it.

Never knew that... it would save a lotta hassle going near Julianstown at snails speed! They probably stick a toll on that road too mind you! :rolleyes:

kormak

Scotch Hall traffic lights back acting up again... red @ 06:45 this morning with the roller door shut?!