Farronshoneen Roundabout

Jerry Atrick

Active travel, while well intentioned in theory, is not going to work in Waterford at the current rate. There are not enough options or frequencies for it to work in it's current guise. No point closing the stable door when the horse has already bolted. If people are going to use it in Waterford it needs to be far more punctual and have more routes.

Yes, I frequently use public transport in the city and often end up walking due to lack of service.

Meatball.Martin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123135830#Comment_123135830

Someone should also look @ the traffic light sequence @ Parnell St/Mall & at the The Bridge. No point in having a light turn green in Parnell Street when you cant move. It usually takes 2/3 changes before you manage to make snaillike progress onto The Quay

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123284296#Comment_123284296

Its quicker to walk into town from Ferrybank than travel by car/bus. Last Thursday morning it took me 30 mins to drive from Rockenham to the traffic lights & Rockshire Road. A total distance of 0.8km. The bus service from Ferrybank to the town is absolutely shocking. JJ Kavanaghs take a bow.

Cabaal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123284296#Comment_123284296

You realise you cannot improve public transport unl;ess you take space away from cars.
Its really that simple, to improve things stuff has to change.

It cannot just all magically change within 24hrs or even 1 year.

Jerry Atrick

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123296721#Comment_123296721

Yes I realise that, do you use public transport? If so, what is your take on it?

Hodger

Report in the waterford news and star that the apartment blocks near deerwood have being given the go ahead.

https://www.waterford-news.ie/news/deerpark-residents-disappointed-by-planning-decision_arid-51978.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawJQHRhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHTT4MHPLD_WQTryfY_RZdbNlBVDNydKsxjj3s1m3ZD4lN5DDhu_TLqTh9g_aem_8KmVf13UxjWyFYQT78kTCg

As such apartments and housing estate planned out near bishops court are planned and both are in the vicinity of the Farronshoneen Roundabout it make the world of common sense to revert back to two lanes to allow for easier flow of traffic; with new housing will come with further people driving out that area.

Another option for the quay would be a pedestrian bridge by the clock tower such as this Image visualizes.

If the traffic lights were replaced with a pedestrian bridge given its presently a one lane traffic system on both sides a pedestrian bridge would be a win for both pedestrians crossing over and for drivers with allowing for an easier flow of traffic.

johnnykilo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123298758#Comment_123298758

The Tramore Bus and any large trucks might have something to say about that footbridge if it's anything like that mock-up 😂

azimuth17

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123298758#Comment_123298758

I can hardly think of anything worse or uglier or more out of place than this type of pedestrian bridge in an urban setting.

Hodger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123298883#Comment_123298883

It would obviously be higher / high enough to let double decker bus and trucks through. Couldn't enlarge it in image editing. But two options for Quay regarding traffic either revert back to 4 traffic lanes. Or if keeping the current two lane system replace the traffic lights with a pedestrian bridge to allow a easier constant flow of traffic. At times like others I might wait for a bus some evenings: the lights change a lot . Instead of traffic lights that change a lot a pedestrian bridge might be a good idea so the traffic can constantly flow and the busses would be able to travel faster and better on the Quay.

Bards

Vehicle Bridge from tower hotel to north quays would be the optimum solution. then make south quays and north quays one way similar to ballybricken..outbound via rice bridge and inbound via new bridge.

Allow public transport to use dedicated express lanes on both quays

Cabaal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123298758#Comment_123298758

You posted the April fools a few days early. 😂

For the bridge idea to work it would have to be over twice the height shown in the photo, that means the ramps upto it would have to be much, much longer and zig zag and perhaps even require a lift for mobility impaired people.

A zig zag ramp up and down means that crossing would by equal to walking 3-4 times longer then simply crossing the road. While you might try sell it as a win for pedestrians its actually not.

- Its de-priotitising pedestrians
- Forcing pedestrians to walk further
- Is putting blockers in place for those with disabilities
- Creates a danger for traffic underneath as now items can be dropped on the traffic unless you fully enclose the bridge in a cage.
- You'd have to surround the road underneath with loads of railings to prevent pedestrians taking the much more logicial and faster route of simply crossing the road.
- Its bloody ugly as sin
- It takes away from the character of the clock tower which makes the area worse.
- I'd strongly suspect that AIB, Grandville etc would object based on it impacting business and making the place so ugly
- The ramp space and structure supports would take away space from Taxi's and/or bus stops.

Just so many issues.

In short, the bridge makes the city more hostile to pedestrians.
It's an awful idea.

Cabaal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123297299#Comment_123297299

Yes, it needs improvement.
While costs for some have come down more often then not it gets stuck in car traffic.

We should always give priority to a vehicle moving 40-50 people over a vehicle moving on avg 1.5 (car). The city should have dedicated bus lanes on all major routes including the entire outer ring road, along with bus lane cameras to enforce there use.

914

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123298758#Comment_123298758

Where the new apartments are going to be built two lanes are already present.

The only part of the roundabout that reduced from 2 lanes to 1 was on the grange side, all other approaches still have two lanes.

Jerry Atrick

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123317317#Comment_123317317

Yes but all the extra households will need to return go their homes. Some more than likely via Grange side. In short, it was an absolutely horrendous decision by unelected representative Michael Murphy.

914

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123319208#Comment_123319208

They would be best off returning home from the airport road though, as if they return from the grange side, they have to go the whole way down the dual carriageway and back around to access their entrance.

I do agree the lane should have remained there and the pedestrian crossing moved back to the single lanes, but even if it is returned it's not going to be a game changer, the extra lane will allow an extra 6 cars possibly to enter that lane, when traffic is back as far as St Anne's it's not a huge difference, unless the left lane is used as a filter lane and it gets traffic moving that bit quicker.

The big issue is the volume of cars in the roads, I also feel a secondary school located on the Williamstown road/ballygunner would go a long way in removing a fair chuck of that traffic.

Jerry Atrick

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123320446#Comment_123320446

Agreed on the above, it won't make a massive difference but would assist the huge backlogs now. The school situation is a real issue but unfortunately can't see that changing with Waterpark recently renovated.

The real issue I have is the consultation process, or lack of, and the attitude that public transport will make the difference. I would be my last euro the Active Travel manager rarely, if ever, uses either public transport around city or the Farranshoneen roundabout.