Enfield: Which route do you take?

Neuro

Just curious. When driving through Enfield, do you use the bypass or drive through the town? I find going through the town faster. How about you?

Interceptor

After seven in the evening I go through, during the day I bypass. Generally I pour hate and scorn on all parts of Enfield and wish that someday it be sucked into a big hole and burned. Mostly I use the bypass and cut people up on the roundabouts for driving like twats since Kinnegad.

'c

Robbo

I'll go through the town if it's not peak hours, otherwise it's onto the circuitous bypass for me.

Following on from Interceptor's disdain for the town, I'm in favour of nuking the entire midlands. Drop the big one on Athlone and leave the Galway-Dublin road as one Mad Max-esque 100 mph chase through nuclear wasteland, shooting feral (well, moreso than they usually are) children with shotguns.

impr0v

I use the bypass at all times and seeth with anger when i get stopped at the roundabouts by short-cutters. Every time I complete the loop and see someone that was in front me on approach to the town, and who is now in my mirrors despite their going through it, it makes my day.

BrianD

I use the bypass out of respect for the community. It would be a good idea if they banned HGV's through the town. I don't think I have ever seen a HGV on the bypass!

Imposter

I think it needs another set of light up at the end
I think, for the sake of the people living in the village that traffic should be forced somehow onto the bypass.

I would also shoot whoever decided that such a long bypass was a good idea. Surely there must have been a better way to bypass the village.

Seth Brundle

The length of the bypass is not the problem - the effectivness of the bypass is lowered by having a ridiculously low speed limit (was 40mph now 60kph?) and also the set of lights mid way though.
However, as mentioned all HGVs should be banned from this and all other small towns where possible!
Co-incidentally, I heard on the radio this morning about another accident at one of the roundabouts!

viking

At night I will go through the town as there are no lights on the bypass and its difficult to see sometimes 'cos of the oncoming lights and the rise in the road. The traffic lights in the middle annoy the hell out of me.

Saying that, its always quicker to go through the town...

Viking

Macy

Bypass quicker if you don't get caught by the lights, town quicker otherwise. 50-50 in my experience.

The bypass is the length it is because it's to be the link road for the new motorway, which can't come quick enough....

por

If there is a HGV in front of me I decided to take the route he is not taking, at the end he will be either behind me or so far in front not to bother me.
If no HGV I usually take the bypass

It's ridiculious that we are even having this discussion, who is responsible for wasting so much money on such an ineffictive by-pass.

fletch

I always drive through the town....9 times outa 10 you end up coming out in front of the car you were travelling behind so it tends to be quicker not to take the bypass IMO

skibum

Interceptor wrote:

Mostly I use the bypass and cut people up on the roundabouts for driving like twats since Kinnegad.

If that p1sses you off, how do you feel when a twat cut's you up at a roundabout?

mike65

Moved to Commuting/Transport.

Where the f*ck is Enfield?

Mike.

Capt'n Midnight

Enfield is where they could have replaced a single lane each side road with traffic lights where a side road crosses it and 60Km/hr speed limit with proper motorway for just 50% more.

Depends on direction !

Heading out from Dublin the traffic that goes through the town has right of way at the roundabout on the far side so that is preferred. The main trick is not to get caught behind a bus that stops in Enfield.

On the way back to Dublin, traffic using the bypass has right of way so probably not such an advantage.

Really it depends on the amount of traffic in the town - if there isn't a lot 50 Kmph on a straight line is faster than 60Kmph on a half circle.

Anyone know how the timing cycle of the lights in Enfield and those on the bypass compares as to what % of the time is given to traffic on the main road vs. the side road ?

BrianD

The relief road (as its called) was never built as a bypass though it effectively acts as one. There was no question of it being a motorway as they M4 will bypass the entire town.

ishmael whale

por wrote:

It's ridiculious that we are even having this discussion, who is responsible for wasting so much money on such an ineffictive by-pass.

Take your pick

http://www.irishcar.com/enfieldopen120402.htm

“12 April 2002: Meath County Council today opened the 11m euros Enfield Relief Road, easing a traffic bottleneck on the N4 between Enfield and Kilcock and saving motorists up to 30 minutes on trips between Dublin and the West at peak times.

The 2.58km road was designed and built by Meath County Council and will remove more than 20,000 vehicles daily from Enfield, including 3,000 heavy goods vehicles. Noel Dempsey TD, Minister for the Environment and Local Government, officially opened the road at 10.30am, in the presence of Cllr Seamus Murray, Cathaoirleach, Meath County Council. ………

Peter Malone, Chairman, National Roads Authority said the cost of the scheme will be repaid many times in terms of eliminating one of the most congested traffic bottlenecks in the country.

The Enfield Relief Road will ultimately become an access route to the Kilcock-Enfield-Kinnegad motorway, part of the proposed 1billion motorway between Dublin and Galway. That scheme is currently at design/planning stage and is expected to be completed by 2005.”

Tom Dunne

mike65 wrote:

Moved to Commuting/Transport.

Where the f*ck is Enfield?

Mike.

Lucan->Leixlip->Maynooth->Kilcock->Enfield.

As a resident of the People's Republic of Enfield, I take exception to the suggestion of removing it from the face of the Earth. Granted, there are a few locals who could be neutered, but in general, we are nice people.

The ring road was designed as a link up with the motorway which my people tell me will be opened in November of this year, hence the unorthodox design and construction.

It has made a noticable difference to traffic in the village, roll on the opening of the motorway.

Victor

I never go near Enfield!