N17 Claregalway traffic lights

Curious Geroge

Claregalway traffic lights not working for 2 days last week = no traffic (on the tuam or oranmore roads), no tailbacks and no traffic all the way until you meet the normal city traffic.

Today, back to traffic lights working and our 20 mins delays getting through Claregalway..

tred

Curious Geroge wrote: »

Claregalway traffic lights not working for 2 days last week = no traffic (on the tuam or oranmore roads), no tailbacks and no traffic all the way until you meet the normal city traffic.

Today, back to traffic lights working and our 20 mins delays getting through Claregalway..

I was thinking the exact same myself, but then remember when the lights not working, those pedestrian lights not working either, so not stop starts from there. They could have solved a lot of problems by building some sort of pedestrian bridge there instead of what they did.

Tipsygypsy

I agree wholeheartedly, traffic is much better when the lights are off. But It wasnt so easy to turn right into Claregalway from the Oranmore Road before the lights were there, and was an accident waiting to happen, I think when the lights are out people are much nicer at letting people out than when theres no lights there at all, iykwim. Also at least when the lights are on people are less inclined to speed past the national school beside the church there, I pass it everyday and as a parent (my own kids go elsewhere) I really understand the difficulties they have with people passing too fast.

tred

Tipsygypsy wrote: »

I agree wholeheartedly, traffic is much better when the lights are off. But It wasnt so easy to turn right into Claregalway from the Oranmore Road before the lights were there, and was an accident waiting to happen, I think when the lights are out people are much nicer at letting people out than when theres no lights there at all, iykwim. Also at least when the lights are on people are less inclined to speed past the national school beside the church there, I pass it everyday and as a parent (my own kids go elsewhere) I really understand the difficulties they have with people passing too fast.

No Doubt they need calming measures at the school in the morning, but thats well gone at 5. To be honest what shocked me last week was the oranmore exit was clear!. no more than the town to claregalway direction. They need some more traffic analysis done there. Roundabout and some type of pedestrian bridge is what should have gone in i think. cheaper than a bypass.

yer man!

tred wrote: »

No Doubt they need calming measures at the school in the morning, but thats well gone at 5. To be honest what shocked me last week was the oranmore exit was clear!. no more than the town to claregalway direction. They need some more traffic analysis done there. Roundabout and some type of pedestrian bridge is what should have gone in i think. cheaper than a bypass.

I would agree, i think roundabout would have worked quite well here, then you'd only have to worry about the traffic coming from the right. Traffic lights are just an awful idea.

DeadSkin

yer man! wrote: »

I would agree, i think roundabout would have worked quite well here, then you'd only have to worry about the traffic coming from the right. Traffic lights are just an awful idea.

Roudabout + Galway = ignorant drivers who don't give a fook about anyone else on the roundabout.

Traffic lights are fine, I'll put up with the tailbacks

galwayfreak

i think these traffic lights like most in the city should be timed and only used in peak times. they do help at times but these lights should be turned off at off peak hours.


how many times have you stopped at these or another example those lights in liosbaun and not a car in sight .

yer man!

DeadSkin wrote: »

Roudabout + Galway = ignorant drivers who don't give a fook about anyone else on the roundabout.

Traffic lights are fine, I'll put up with the tailbacks

Well assuming everyone using it is sensible then i think a roundabout works quite well as it's near free flow traffic rather than stop start stop start. Roundabout outside huntsman worked better than traffic lights for example. I know there is idiots who can't use roundabouts but you can't really prevent that can you.

DeadSkin

yer man! wrote: »

Well assuming everyone using it is sensible then i think a roundabout works quite well as it's near free flow traffic rather than stop start stop start. Roundabout outside huntsman worked better than traffic lights for example. I know there is idiots who can't use roundabouts but you can't really prevent that can you.

In theory, yes, but roundabouts & Galwegians don't mix.

A wise man once said

Marge, I agree with you -- in theory. In theory, communism works. In theory.

A roundabout could cause problems if the traffic flow was mostly in one direction - it might be difficult for cars coming from the Carnmore side to get onto the roundabout if there was a constant flow coming from the Tuam side in the mornings.

In the evenings there could be big tailbacks on the Galway side if every car coming from the Carnmore side had priority.

tred

Deleted User wrote: »

A roundabout could cause problems if the traffic flow was mostly in one direction - it might be difficult for cars coming from the Carnmore side to get onto the roundabout if there was a constant flow coming from the Tuam side in the mornings.

In the evenings there could be big tailbacks on the Galway side if every car coming from the Carnmore side had priority.

There is a balance on a roundabout, and that junction is well busy enough, to stop that happening with traffice moving every direction at peak, and all id say, anyone that wouldnt give correct right of way throw the law at them.

Curious Geroge

galwayfreak wrote: »

i think these traffic lights like most in the city should be timed and only used in peak times. they do help at times but these lights should be turned off at off peak hours.

I'm afriad the council simply dont care !!

Last friday afternoon there was makeshift lights put up by the council workers doing work beside the bridge. Green light for the traffic heading to tuam was timed for about 50 seconds allowing on average 6 cars through at a time and causing a 7 mile tailback. The lights allowing traffic into galway were timed for 4 minutes and no cars passing through. The guys were working beside this and never had the simple cop'on to change this and left everyone getting home in traffic for the night.. madnees continues.

DeadSkin

Curious Geroge wrote: »

I'm afriad the council simply dont care !!

Last friday afternoon there was makeshift lights put up by the council workers doing work beside the bridge. Green light for the traffic heading to tuam was timed for about 50 seconds allowing on average 6 cars through at a time and causing a 7 mile tailback. The lights allowing traffic into galway were timed for 4 minutes and no cars passing through. The guys were working beside this and never had the simple cop'on to change this and left everyone getting home in traffic for the night.. madnees continues.

Aye, heard about that alright. Someone shoulda got out of their car and had a word with one of the guys.

Passing thru' Claregalway this morining there was some activity around the bridge. Any one know if there'll be a similar set up again with temp lights today?

WallyGUFC

Why not do a real Galway thing on it - a roundabout with traffic lights!:rolleyes:

WallyGUFC

WallyGUFC wrote: »

Why not do a real Galway thing on it - a roundabout with traffic lights!:rolleyes:

dont forget to stick a pedestrian crossing or two there, some with lights and some without

Lanshane

I rang the Galway county council last week to complain that the lights were not working 'intelligently' and they said that it was due to the large volumes of traffic on the N17 as a result of people not driving the monivea road because of the weather conditions. What a load of bull I was fed. I rang again yesterday, Tuesday 14th and they admitted that there was a problem with the lights which was caused by the 'frost'. The council said that they were getting the 'specialists' in to look at this this week but could not give me a time. It's a crazy set up that you could only expect from the Galway county/city council. Came through the lights this morning and the same mess, and this is at 6:55AM! The thing is they used to work somewhat intelligently, however it gets very frustrating when you (along with thousands of others) are sitting in a tailback waiting for the lights to go red, while the oranmore traffic is free to go, but there is no traffic! Madness. Has anyone else been on to the council or have any feedback?

WallyGUFC

They never worked fully intelligently really. If you are heading from the City towards Tuam and want to turn right up towards Carnmore you have literally 5 seconds to do it. If you want to go straight on, about 2 or 3 minutes. Then if you are coming from Carnmore there is a huge wait but then there's around minute to go from there and that's not needed. It's always been a crazy layout. A roundabout would be ideal imo but there's no room.

Lanshane

WallyGUFC wrote: »

They never worked fully intelligently really. If you are heading from the City towards Tuam and want to turn right up towards Carnmore you have literally 5 seconds to do it. If you want to go straight on, about 2 or 3 minutes. Then if you are coming from Carnmore there is a huge wait but then there's around minute to go from there and that's not needed. It's always been a crazy layout. A roundabout would be ideal imo but there's no room.

Agreed, but the lies and tales one receives from Galway county council just adds insult to injury. They'd sooner have a beer tent erected in Eyre square to cater for a minority of party punters rather than sort out the lights in Claregalway that are affecting thousands of commuters on a daily basis. Why does it take them so long to react and fix the bloody lights....or make them less annoying should I say. Some spot.

Curious Geroge

Lanshane wrote: »

I rang the Galway county council last week to complain that the lights were not working 'intelligently' and they said that it was due to the large volumes of traffic on the N17 as a result of people not driving the monivea road because of the weather conditions. What a load of bull I was fed. I rang again yesterday, Tuesday 14th and they admitted that there was a problem with the lights which was caused by the 'frost'. The council said that they were getting the 'specialists' in to look at this this week but could not give me a time. It's a crazy set up that you could only expect from the Galway county/city council. Came through the lights this morning and the same mess, and this is at 6:55AM! The thing is they used to work somewhat intelligently, however it gets very frustrating when you (along with thousands of others) are sitting in a tailback waiting for the lights to go red, while the oranmore traffic is free to go, but there is no traffic! Madness. Has anyone else been on to the council or have any feedback?

You'd have been in a much better position to ring Noel Grealish. Complaint's were made to Galway city garda during the bad weather (Oranmore and Claregalway garda don't start work that early -- which has its own problems with people using the bus lane for there own selfish reasons every morning but that's another thread). The Galway garda did'nt have anyone available and Galway CoCo refused to say anything was wrong. Within 20 mins of Noel Grealish been on Galway Bay FM, 2 garda cars, 8 garda arrive and direct the traffic, start phoning your local TD for everything and that'll surely sort someone out !!

Anyway's, next day, more bad weather, same bloody thing, nothing sorted, nothing every is as no'one is held responsible and it would seem none of these guys use the N17 every morning.

Back the original post, no lights, no traffic jams and note that this was when the kids were back in school and we had all the mums and dads on the road doing school drops. All these parents weren't on the roads with the bad weather, the schools were closed.

Curious Geroge

Lanshane wrote: »

Tuesday 14th and they admitted that there was a problem with the lights which was caused by the 'frost'. The council said that they were getting the 'specialists' in to look at this this week but could not give me a time.

Oh, the problem and this is frigging hilarious, the frost froze the pedestrian crossing light in an "on" position so the lights changed rapidly because it thought someone wanted to cross the road.

The company with their 'specialists' must be a group of college students trying there luck.

Curious Geroge

WallyGUFC wrote: »

A roundabout would be ideal imo but there's no room.

+1 on the roundabout, there is loads of room though. It does'nt need to be a complex matrix.

Lanshane

Curious Geroge wrote: »

You'd have been in a much better position to ring Noel Grealish. Complaint's were made to Galway city garda during the bad weather (Oranmore and Claregalway garda don't start work that early -- which has its own problems with people using the bus lane for there own selfish reasons every morning but that's another thread). The Galway garda did'nt have anyone available and Galway CoCo refused to say anything was wrong. Within 20 mins of Noel Grealish been on Galway Bay FM, 2 garda cars, 8 garda arrive and direct the traffic, start phoning your local TD for everything and that'll surely sort someone out !!

Anyway's, next day, more bad weather, same bloody thing, nothing sorted, nothing every is as no'one is held responsible and it would seem none of these guys use the N17 every morning.

Back the original post, no lights, no traffic jams and note that this was when the kids were back in school and we had all the mums and dads on the road doing school drops. All these parents weren't on the roads with the bad weather, the schools were closed.

Mr. Grealish it is then

WallyGUFC

Curious Geroge wrote: »

+1 on the roundabout, there is loads of room though. It does'nt need to be a complex matrix.

Suppose. 1 house there that could hamper it and of course they'll never touch a church carpark!:rolleyes:

Curious Geroge

WallyGUFC wrote: »

Suppose. 1 house there that could hamper it and of course they'll never touch a church carpark!:rolleyes:

True but 2 green fields each side of the road on the galway side, NRA and a complusary purchase order and your done..

gally74

a good footbridge over the n 17 be it a tunnell or overhead i think would fix 50% of the issues, can see why it hasent been done, in fact you could put in elevators etc. for quite small money.

Curious Geroge

Is it me or has traffic actually gotten worse in 2011 :mad:

DeadSkin

Curious Geroge wrote: »

Is it me or has traffic actually gotten worse in 2011 :mad:

Aye!! Seems worse alright the past week or two on the N17, Tuam side of Claregalway.

Curious Geroge

DeadSkin wrote: »

Aye!! Seems worse alright the past week or two on the N17, Tuam side of Claregalway.

Galway Bay FM reported last week that the city council agreed that there was a continued problem and that it was to be sorted this morning (Monday). Not to sure about how a roundabout (and foot bridge) would be completed over the wknd but they failed. Its the same failed response, the same queue of cars, the same waiting time, the same number of cars tearing down the rat runs, same ol council !! :mad:

DeadSkin

Found traffic the past 3 mornings has improved a lot thru' Claregalway.

Curious Geroge

DeadSkin wrote: »

Found traffic the past 3 mornings has improved a lot thru' Claregalway.

+1 this week was great. Has something happened, kids are still in school, no bank holidays, long may it continue..

Western501

I presume that reduction in traffic over the past few morning is as a result of some people feeling comfortable reverting back to the sideroads/rat runs?

Lanshane

Western501 wrote: »

I presume that reduction in traffic over the past few morning is as a result of some people feeling comfortable reverting back to the sideroads/rat runs?

No they have definitely done something to the lights, they are staying green longer for the N17 traffic. This morning I noticed a huge improvement. It only took our genius friends in the council 2 months to sort out...suppose that's good for them!

Curious Geroge

Two weeks and we're looking good.

Off course the tailback has to be somewhere and that's Two Mile Ditch (Castlegar). Off course if you work in Parkmore, your sorted, no traffic and since alot of the claregalway traffic parted ways to oranmore and parkmore the tailback at Two Mile Ditch is'nt as bad.

Still though, get that sorted and it all looks good (this side of the city).

Curious Geroge

Curious Geroge wrote: »

Two weeks and we're looking good.

Off course the tailback has to be somewhere and that's Two Mile Ditch (Castlegar). Off course if you work in Parkmore, your sorted, no traffic and since alot of the claregalway traffic parted ways to oranmore and parkmore the tailback at Two Mile Ditch is'nt as bad.

Still though, get that sorted and it all looks good (this side of the city).

Spoke too early.. 3 weeks of not traffic jams in claregalway and we're back to them again this week.. someone closer to the city must have been talking to the city council about the traffic jam in Two Mile Ditch !!

Curious Geroge

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DeadSkin

Curious Geroge wrote: »

Spoke too early.. 3 weeks of not traffic jams in claregalway and we're back to them again this week.. someone closer to the city must have been talking to the city council about the traffic jam in Two Mile Ditch !!

Wouldn't say it was traffic jam yesterday morning, was moving along alright. Nothing like before.

This morning was a breeze

Curious Geroge

DeadSkin wrote: »

Wouldn't say it was traffic jam yesterday morning, was moving along alright. Nothing like before.

This morning was a breeze

Really..

I was blocked up to the N63 junction at about 830am (every mornin this week).

Came into claregalway, from the petrol station to the lights it went through 3 stop/starts. I counted the first groups of cars with 8 cars through, then red and the second group was 9 cars through and then me, so did'nt make any sense to have that. Last couple of weeks it was clearing from the lights back to the claregwalway hotel at each change and we had no issues !!

DeadSkin

Curious Geroge wrote: »

Really..

I was blocked up to the N63 junction at about 830am (every mornin this week).

Came into claregalway, from the petrol station to the lights it went through 3 stop/starts. I counted the first groups of cars with 8 cars through, then red and the second group was 9 cars through and then me, so did'nt make any sense to have that. Last couple of weeks it was clearing from the lights back to the claregwalway hotel at each change and we had no issues !!

Ah, It'd be around 7:30am mark I be passing thru'.

Curious Geroge

DeadSkin wrote: »

Ah, It'd be around 7:30am mark I be passing thru'.

How you finding the traffic now in the mornings ?

As far as I can see there has been attempts to change this and its just abcking up the N17. Why they did this I dont know but I've been enable to get any response from the council offices. Maybe now the election is over some pressure might be put on them to sort out queries.

DeadSkin

Curious Geroge wrote: »

How you finding the traffic now in the mornings ?

As far as I can see there has been attempts to change this and its just abcking up the N17. Why they did this I dont know but I've been enable to get any response from the council offices. Maybe now the election is over some pressure might be put on them to sort out queries.

Finding it fine. Usually goin' thru' the lights 7:30-7:45am. What time do you go thru'?

Curious Geroge

DeadSkin wrote: »

Finding it fine. Usually goin' thru' the lights 7:30-7:45am. What time do you go thru'?

Varies slightly but 8:15am to 8:45am. The new bridge is'nt going to help it but could be an endless rant here once that starts.

westerlywonder

I passed through this morning at an unusual time just before 12 o clock. Wouldn't usually be there at this time but it made me notice something, the lights were red when i got to them (heading towards tuam), i was there about 3 seconds before they turned green. Just as i was taking off again i noticed 3 cars pull up together behind the red light coming from caranmore. Within seconds my green light had gone orange and was red nearly before i had crossed the junction. There was no traffic behind me on the N17 or on the way to galway. I found it very strange, it definitely was not the usual light sequence.
I just wondered had they now some way of monitoring traffic at the junction now so as the lights are working on traffic volume now?

dec25532

Noticed something similar to previous poster. I hit the lights at 7.30 ish most mornings and they stay on green for a considerable amount of time which results in damn all of a tailback going through the village towards Galway. But on Thursdays I hit them at around the 10 o clock mark and they stay on green for a much shorter time so there must be be synchonised between early morning and mid morning. It is really weird.