Traffic changes

alta stare wrote:

Isnt all these new routes for new cycle lanes or something along those lines? Could just end up creating more traffic jams around that end of town. Getting from Woodies to the bridge via parnell street/the mall/the quay could be a nightmare.

Unless you need to go that way, why would u even consider that route. It has been the longest option since Christ was a child.

Remember the old idiom "If it ain't broke then don't fix it". Let's be honest Waterford is a small city and in recent years the WCCC have turned most of the city centre into a maze with associated traffic jams with the plethora of changes with regards to the road network. The layout of the city centre does not sit well with the WCCC's grandiose ideas. You would really have to wonder how such plans and changes were approved? They may look good on paper but in reality the majority of what has been implemented to date has proved to be impractical from the actual road user's perspective.
Re. Bath St/Bunkers Hill:
Hitherto never known as a tailback/traffic blackspot has suddenly become one. Never mind the right hand turn out the Cork Rd the left hand turn in the Manor is equally problematic. Last Friday night I was stuck in traffic for about 15mins attempting to turn left. Only 2/3 cars were getting through on each light change. Reason? As you cannot enter Bath St anymore all traffic is forced left or right. The traffic that was turning left in the Manor was backed up because traffic then attempting to go via Railway Sq @ Madigans pub couldnt cross the road because of the traffic coming out from town. Thereby causing a back up behind it.
I really do not see the reasoning behind the Bath St closure. Surely the goal of good traffic management and planning is to ensure the smooth flow of traffic?
Re. The Quay:
From the Bridge Hotel to the Tower Hotel there are 5 sets of traffic lights and two roundabouts. All hemmed into a distance of about 1 mile. Then there is the regular parade of people coming across the road using the central division as pedestrian crossing thereby slowing down traffic as cars leave them pass over. Add in cars backing out from parking spaces. And cars/trucks blocking the flow of traffic on both roundabouts. Oh and did I mention those 5 sets of traffic lights! The WCCC should have taken a leaf from their European counterparts and either use pelican crossings at appropriate intervals or a build a couple of pedestrian underpasses/subway underneath the Quay. Then again that would have been the intelligent option. And finally let's not forget those underused cycle paths. On occasion I cycle but I'd be the first to admit these are scarcely used. But I suppose all these changes have allowed for the smooth flow of traffic down our glorious Quays!!! Not! Usually you can find yourself in a traffic jam at the most random of times (cf. most of the day and on every day) especially from the Tower junction to just after the Bus Station lights whereupon it suddenly disperses and flow into TWO LANES and in BOTH directions.
Re. Patrick St/Stephen St/Alexander St/Lady Lane/Arundel Sq.
Again a textbook illustration of what happens when you try to do too much too soon altogether in too small a space. The ancient core of the city centre wasn't conceived by the Viking and Normans with much thought of cutting edge street design, furniture or indeed cars! But much like the Bath St situation I don't ever recall many problems traffic wise over the years other than maybe Lady Lane. First they stopped cars turning right down Francis Place (Friary) towards the Quay. Then they closed Lady Lane. Changed the direction of flow on Alexander St and made Patrick St and Stephen St one way. YET traffic is still allowed drive both ways on Mayors Walk considering the constant bottleneck on the Barrack St side!

And don't even get me started on trying to access the town from the Ferrybank side!

smaoifs wrote: »

I've noticed a lot on The Quay that people don't realise the bus lanes are only in operation between 07:00 and 19:00 Monday to Saturday.
The Quay was completely backed up between Shaws and the bus station one Sunday cos no one was using the bus lane. I know usually there's a lot of cars parked outside Centra, etc but on this day, I got from Shaws to the turn for Thomas Street in the bus lane without any difficulties.
Speaking of that bus lane, I have seen buses NOT using it cos it's too tight a swing on to the end of Thomas Street (Kaiser Street? I'm not sure).

For the frequency of our buses, there's no need for a bus lane in operation.