Important traffic problem - City of Limerick

jbehrens94 · 11-02-2015 6:36pm #1

What are the most important traffic problems in Limerick (city)?

Poxyshamrock · 11-02-2015 6:39pm

jbehrens94 wrote: »

What are the most important traffic problems in Limerick (city)?

What do you mean by "most important"?

jbehrens94 · 11-02-2015 6:40pm

Most important as in: most disrupting, most annoying, longlasting.

jbehrens94 · 11-02-2015 6:46pm

Could be anything: trains, cars, bikes..

Poxyshamrock · 11-02-2015 7:10pm

Corbally Road is a nightmare.

The Parkway Roundabout is a bit of a bottleneck at peak times.

jbehrens94 · 11-02-2015 7:19pm

And what about public transport? Are there huge troubles?

Swiper the fox · 11-02-2015 7:22pm

Dock road outbound.
The general disregard of parking restrictions on Parnell street, I've never seen a street anywhere else that double parking seems so prevalent, twice in the past year I've been blocked in by somebody in the chipper.

Berty · 11-02-2015 7:35pm

Shortsightedness of Limerick Council to place traffic lights(sur' they love em) at the junction of the Dublin road and Annacotty Ind Estate/Murroe meaning a large tailback every weekday on the Newport Roundabout.

All they needed was to build a roundabout set back from the road as the land is certainly there.

Tefral · 11-02-2015 7:44pm

The crazy placing of Pedestrian crossings on the Shannon Bridge and at Groody roundabout and at the Chawkes roundabout.

Clareman · 11-02-2015 7:47pm

Any chance of a google maps link to show exactly where you're talking about??

Special Circumstances · 11-02-2015 7:50pm

Dublin road outbound in the evening looks disastrous.
Dock road outbound in evening has gotten very bad.

The merging of traffic from O'Connell St etc onto Mallow street is a farce along with the lights and trying to get onto the roundabout at shannon bridge from the Mallow St side.

Was caught in peak traffic going out Corbally once - I think I'd eat my steering wheel with frustration if I had to do it everyday.

Tefral · 11-02-2015 9:06pm

Clareman wrote: »

Any chance of a google maps link to show exactly where you're talking about??

Me?

Clareman · 11-02-2015 9:11pm

At everyone generally, I think I know Limerick fairly well but wouldn't be that familar with some of the names of places, having a map link would just make it easier. No hassle if it's too much hassle

Tefral · 11-02-2015 9:46pm

Clareman wrote: »

At everyone generally, I think I know Limerick fairly well but wouldn't be that familar with some of the names of places, having a map link would just make it easier. No hassle if it's too much hassle

Hopefully ye can see this

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z3MKowx5s470.k5K0-kyhKFx8

Clareman · 11-02-2015 9:51pm

cronin_j wrote: »

Hopefully ye can see this

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z3MKowx5s470.k5K0-kyhKFx8

Try when you are in maps to click on the gears icon and then Embed/Share, that should give you a share-able link https://goo.gl/maps/dgYul

Tefral · 11-02-2015 9:53pm

Clareman wrote: »

Try when you are in maps to click on the gears icon and then Embed/Share, that should give you a share-able link https://goo.gl/maps/dgYul

try now https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z3MKowx5s470.k5K0-kyhKFx8

ricimaki · 11-02-2015 9:55pm

Here's Groody roundabout before the renovations. There are now ramps at each pedestrian crossing
And here is Kilmurry roundabout.
The pedestrian crossings aren't too bad when joining the roundabout, but can be a nightmare when leaving, as they can cause traffic backlogs on the roundabout.

Clareman · 11-02-2015 9:57pm

cronin_j wrote: »

try now https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z3MKowx5s470.k5K0-kyhKFx8

Fair play, nice tracking of most of the issues on here.

Jofspring · 11-02-2015 10:00pm

Swiper the fox wrote: »

Dock road outbound.
The general disregard of parking restrictions on Parnell street, I've never seen a street anywhere else that double parking seems so prevalent, twice in the past year I've been blocked in by somebody in the chipper.

I have to say the absolute worst is William Street. Parnell street is bad but at least wide enough that cars can go around them (unless some idiot blocks in a parked car). William Street though is disgraceful. I can't for the life of me understand how people actually think the right lane the whole way up is for parking in. It is one of the main roads through the city centre and has double yellow lines the whole way up. Abandoned cars nearly everyday of the week with Sunday being th e worst. The sooner they start towing cars away the sooner people will learn their lesson.

Tefral · 11-02-2015 10:01pm

Clareman wrote: »

Fair play, nice tracking of most of the issues on here.

Could add alot more. I may be cynical, but they placed so many lights, pedestrian crossings etc along the main roads to frustrate traffic, its like they want you to use the tunnel. No surprise its loosing a fortune for the NRA

Wise Old Elf · 11-02-2015 10:02pm

I find Henry street's lane layout a bit of a mess, especially if you're heading for Arthur's quay.

Turning onto lwr mallow from either side O'Connell street is similar, people nearly always are crossing over lanes to go to henry St/Shannon bridge.

Been a while since I had to use it but parkway roundabout a bit mad. Roundabout at crescent shopping centre used to be mental in the mornings as well, up to 4 lanes coming in to one heading in to town.

On phone so no links, sorry.

Tefral · 11-02-2015 10:04pm

Jofspring wrote: »

I have to say the absolute worst is William Street. Parnell street is bad but at least wide enough that cars can go around them (unless some idiot blocks in a parked car). William Street though is disgraceful. I can't for the life of me understand how people actually think the right lane the whole way up is for parking in. It is one of the main roads through the city centre and has double yellow lines the whole way up. Abandoned cars nearly everyday of the week with Sunday being th e worst. The sooner they start towing cars away the sooner people will learn their lesson.

8-9.30 its full of trucks, when they do go its full of cabs parked along there blocking the whole place. The Traffic Corps should be there every day. The other one is coming from castletroy towards the parkway roundabout, people drive up the wrong lane and cut in, causing a backup.

phog · 11-02-2015 10:10pm

The positioning of the traffic lights at UL main entrance, the ones on public road are placed such that if you enter the "yellow box" area you can't see the lights.

Normally there are two sets of lights facing oncoming traffic one at their side of the "yellow box" and one as you exit the "yellow box" area. For some unknown reason both sets at the junction are as you enter the "yellow box" area.

Also, remove the lumps of concrete on the right hand lane on Henry St between Cecil St and Shannon St, then allow the three lanes from this section enter the three corresponding lanes in front of the Savoy hotel.

Allow both lanes of traffic coming in over Sarsfield Bridge continue up Sarsfield St and then onto William St or O'Connell St. It would help ease the back logging out over the bridge.

thesimpsons · 11-02-2015 10:15pm

double parking, parking on yellow lines, parking on William Street in the driving right hand lane, double parking on Roches Street and Shannon Street, the way lanes just randomly disappear and you have to merge right or left (coming down Henry Street towards the Savoy, the lanes just move). People not knowing which lane to use on roundabouts. Dock Road outbound - people not understanding the merge rule. Pedestrian crossings on the Shannon Bridge roundabout.

Tefral · 11-02-2015 10:17pm

phog wrote: »

The positioning of the traffic lights at UL main entrance, the ones on public road are placed such that if you enter the "yellow box" area you can't see the lights.

Normally there are two sets of lights facing oncoming traffic one at their side of the "yellow box" and one as you exit the "yellow box" area. For some unknown reason both sets at the junction are as you enter the "yellow box" area.

Also, remove the lumps of concrete on the right hand lane on Henry St between Cecil St and Shannon St, then allow the three lanes from this section enter the three corresponding lanes in front of the Savoy hotel.

Allow both lanes of traffic coming in over Sarsfield Bridge continue up Sarsfield St and then onto William St or O'Connell St. It would help ease the back logging out over the bridge.

Speaking of Cecil street, if your on lower Cecil street and you want to go straight over up towards Jerry Flannerys pub, you cant see all of O'connell street on your left as the signage and street furniture outside AIB is in the way

phog · 11-02-2015 10:37pm

cronin_j wrote: »

Speaking of Cecil street, if your on lower Cecil street and you want to go straight over up towards Jerry Flannerys pub, you cant see all of O'connell street on your left as the signage and street furniture outside AIB is in the way

Yes, the placing of some signage and street furniture is poorly thought out.

Cookiemunster · 11-02-2015 11:14pm

cronin_j wrote: »

Speaking of Cecil street, if your on lower Cecil street and you want to go straight over up towards Jerry Flannerys pub, you cant see all of O'connell street on your left as the signage and street furniture outside AIB is in the way

It's worse in the summer when they put one of the giant flower pots at that corner. You literally have to drive onto O'Connell St. to see if there's any traffic coming! How the keep putting it there year after year I'll never know.

phill106 · 11-02-2015 11:33pm

The speed limit on the condell road...should be 80.
How 4 lanes of toll barrier changes to 2 lanes without any set priority.
Roundabout at the radisson where people go in the wrong lane and seem shocked when i beep the hell out of them.
Actually make that most roundabouts in limerick!

Poxyshamrock · 11-02-2015 11:35pm

The two lanes at the end of sexton street do my head in as well. Left lane is ONLY for Parnell Street. Right lane for Roches and Wickham Street.

Jofspring · 11-02-2015 11:59pm

The bottom of Shannon street turning onto Henry street. It's two lanes, and continuously people go in the right hand lane, turn the bend and cut across the traffic on their left to get into the far lane to head towards the Ennis Rd. Most do it cause they are too lazy to wait in the left hand lane to go around in the correct lane. I've seen people do it to try skip one car. It causes near misses nearly every day.

And worse again I've had two near misses as I am in the left lane turning onto Henry street and the car in the lane next to me decides to go straight on down the side of dunnes even though the lane is right turn only.

jonski · 12-02-2015 12:05am

I would say that maybe the MODs should alert the Boards.ie chief engineer , I've a feeling this will be a very big and busy thread

Comhrá · 12-02-2015 12:54am

Whoever designed the entrance/exit to Tesco (Coonagh) deserves an award for incompetence. Such a convoluted entrance... past the petrol pump, then a tiny roundabout, then a right turn onto the main parking area.

Exit is equally torturous... a tight turn then drive in the opposite direction to where you're eventually going, then watch out over your right shoulder as you approach a tight roundabout, 180 degree turn back towards the Ennis road....ffs, how did anyone dream it up?? This idiotic system has made me avoid Tesco as much as possible....

and the other exit onto the Ennis road (at the back of Tesco) has been closed off with cement bollards (to discourage the traveler community from parking?)

Cookiemunster · 12-02-2015 1:12am

phill106 wrote: »

The speed limit on the condell road...should be 80.
How 4 lanes of toll barrier changes to 2 lanes without any set priority.
Roundabout at the radisson where people go in the wrong lane and seem shocked when i beep the hell out of them.
Actually make that most roundabouts in limerick!

Thats the same after all toll plazas so isn't unique to Limerick.

highlydebased · 12-02-2015 1:17am

tippman1 wrote: »

Whoever designed the entrance/exit to Tesco (Coonagh) deserves an award for incompetence. Such a convoluted entrance... past the petrol pump, then a tiny roundabout, then a right turn onto the main parking area.

Exit is equally torturous... a tight turn then drive in the opposite direction to where you're eventually going, then watch out over your right shoulder as you approach a tight roundabout, 180 degree turn back towards the Ennis road....ffs, how did anyone dream it up?? This idiotic system has made me avoid Tesco as much as possible....

and the other exit onto the Ennis road (at the back of Tesco) has been closed off with cement bollards (to discourage the traveler community from parking?)

I suspect that will all change, they are starting the Coonagh-Knockalisheen road in the coming months

wotswattage · 12-02-2015 3:53am

Here on Henry Street I've nearly been wiped out several times. I'm in the place of the grey car in the centre lane, going straight ahead into the centre lane after the lights and someone in the lane the camera car is in drifts across into my path and expects right of way!?!

https://www.google.ie/maps/@52.662627,-8.629979,3a,75y,39.1h,85.22t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sd5IpFjSADcpnhh5c-QPLPw!2e0?hl=en

Swiper the fox · 12-02-2015 8:38am

wotswattage wrote: »

Here on Henry Street I've nearly been wiped out several times. I'm in the place of the grey car in the centre lane, going straight ahead into the centre lane after the lights and someone in the lane the camera car is in drifts across into my path and expects right of way!?!

https://www.google.ie/maps/@52.662627,-8.629979,3a,75y,39.1h,85.22t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sd5IpFjSADcpnhh5c-QPLPw!2e0?hl=en

I think somebody else mentioned that I this thread also, I find that very confusing, my understanding though is that the lane that the grey car is in is for people turning onto the Ennis road and the other lane users should merge to the middle after that point if they are going straight past O'Sullivans chemist towards Arthur's quay.

Jofspring · 12-02-2015 10:30am

I think that is the problem. They should maybe mark Ennis Rd only on the middle lane and at least cars would then know the right hand lane is for the middle and right on the next section of road. As it stands it's just a race to get into the middle lane.

The same goes for sexton street. To avoid confusion just write Parnell street only in the left lane.

Wise Old Elf · 12-02-2015 10:35am

^^
As per above, without road markings there's nothing wrong with choosing either left or right hand lane to go in to the middle lane after the lights (I think), and it just becomes a fight/race to get ahead of the other car.
Try cycling it for fun!

Itsdacraic · 12-02-2015 11:19am

The double roundabout at the M7 / Dock Road. People don't have a clue how to use it (or else knowingly use it incorrectly to skip traffic).

Jofspring · 12-02-2015 11:25am

Itsdacraic wrote: »

The double roundabout at the M7 / Dock Road. People don't have a clue how to use it (or else knowingly use it incorrectly to skip traffic).

Shockingly used. Especially the one nearer the cement factory.

People seem to get easily confused and think cause they are on the inside lane on one roundabout they should be on the inside lane on the very next one even though they might be taking a different exit. Like it's some kind of extended roundabout.

Another problem is people driving into the box marked for cyclists. Fair enough if you get caught at a light and end up in it, that can happen. Some people though just blatantly stop in the box for cyclists at the lights, as if they are getting some kind of a head start over everyone else. If the use of bikes in Limerick takes off then they are in for a rude awakening.

Catherine Street does not have right of way at any point either yet people seem to ignore the stop signs at each Junction along it and float straight through past on coming cars.

Edit: on a side note I'm not the most perfect driver in the world and everyone makes mistakes but some people just blatantly ignore the rules of the road and the use of lanes.

apc · 12-02-2015 12:08pm

One of the biggest problems is the lack of intelligent Traffic management within the Council. Obviously they dont either live or drive in the city.
The series sequencing of traffic lights is a joke, you get a green but the lane ahead is on a red and full of cars, sitting at a red light with no traffic on the road with green light.
They boasted some years back about new traffic lights they were to buy that read the traffic to give priority to the busiest, obviously they didnt purchase them.

What happened to the city traffic flow scheme that was suppose to have traffic move oneway around the city

Berty · 12-02-2015 12:16pm

People making mistakes in one thing but council imposing stupid changes on us is annoying because the RSA will tell us we must obey council signs and markings irrespective of if they make sense or not.

Coonagh roundabout to the condell road is one example. You must, by rights, exit the inner orbital lane in the right but they painted chevrons there meaning you are supposed to pull over into the outer oribital lane. That's just wrong so I just drive across the chevrons as that's the way the rules of the road say it should be.

Did you also know that both lanes on wickham street can turn right onto Parnell street? Nobody tries to turn right from the left but by god if they did theyd be blown out of it.

Also yeah condell road is stupid speed limit and I've seen a Garda biker out there checking speed. Fish in a barrel.

juneg · 12-02-2015 12:18pm

The fact that when driving at night you cant see the fading road markings let alone make out words on all these convoluted lanes and turns.

Wise Old Elf · 12-02-2015 12:47pm

Thought of another one, spotted it a while ago, not sure if it's been fixed:

Coming up Sarsfield street at the junction with O'Connell Street. Both lanes have straight ahead arrows (William Street) and right turn arrows (O'Connell Street), so in theory, someone in the left lane goes to turn right onto O'Connell Street, someone in the right lane goes straight on to William Street. Both are obeying the lane markings. A mad one!

Berty · 12-02-2015 12:49pm

It says bus ony on the left lane so only the bus can turn left.

Wise Old Elf · 12-02-2015 12:54pm

Beer Baron wrote: »

It says bus ony on the left lane so only the bus can turn left.

Ah, it was a good while ago when I saw that, and I don't think the bus only bit was there. At least that's something.

Iranoutofideas · 12-02-2015 1:13pm

Given the input here alone you'd wonder has the council ever sat down and had the same discussion. You'd be forgiven for thinking no given the amount of problems.

Then again, planning and Limerick have never been a strong point.

Maybe another thread could be - "Things the council planned well in Limerick."

adaminho · 12-02-2015 1:17pm

Iranoutofideas wrote: »

Maybe another thread post could be - "Things the council planned well in Limerick."

Fyp

thesimpsons · 12-02-2015 3:44pm

Also on roundabouts. Shannon bridge roundabout, heading over bridge and going round in the left lane but exiting onto Dock Road towards cement factory. Does my head in. Then again, we have so many rule variations on roundabouts, there is almost no norm.

wotswattage · 12-02-2015 3:50pm

Swiper the fox wrote: »

I think somebody else mentioned that I this thread also, I find that very confusing, my understanding though is that the lane that the grey car is in is for people turning onto the Ennis road and the other lane users should merge to the middle after that point if they are going straight past O'Sullivans chemist towards Arthur's quay.

Jofspring wrote: »

I think that is the problem. They should maybe mark Ennis Rd only on the middle lane and at least cars would then know the right hand lane is for the middle and right on the next section of road. As it stands it's just a race to get into the middle lane.

The same goes for sexton street. To avoid confusion just write Parnell street only in the left lane.

Wise Old Elf wrote: »

^^
As per above, without road markings there's nothing wrong with choosing either left or right hand lane to go in to the middle lane after the lights (I think), and it just becomes a fight/race to get ahead of the other car.
Try cycling it for fun!

I think its pretty obvious. 3 lanes into the lights, 3 lanes out of the lights. Centre and right lane say straight ahead ONLY so you'd stay in your lane and stay in the centre or right lanes respectively.

What they should do is mark the left lane straight ahead and left so you could use the left lane the whole way down Henry Street to cross Sarsfield Bridge.

Berty · 12-02-2015 5:45pm

You'd think but the left lane, currently turning left only, cannot go straight because the large footpath blocks the way. There isn't enough room for 3 vehicles to go straight so not all 3 Henry street lanes can go straight.

Important traffic problem - City of Limerick

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