New smart traffic lights blamed for traffic chaos in Tipperary
A new set of smart traffic lights installed on the N24 in Carrick-on-Suir are causing major traffic delays through the town, according to a local councillor.
Fianna Fáil councillor Kieran Bourke said that since work had been carried out on the N24 through Carrick-on-Suir and the new set of smart traffic lights were installed, the town had become completely choked up with traffic.
Smart traffic lights use cameras and sensors to adjust signals based on real-time road conditions.
Speaking at a meeting of the Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District, the councillor outlined the issue.
“Since the work has been completed on the N24, traffic has really slowed down. There was one day when traffic went all the way back out to the red bridge on the Clonmel Road,” he said.
“I’ve been monitoring it myself and the problem is the traffic lights at the garda station. Since those new lights went in — they’re smart lights — and they make a decision themselves. I believe these are causing huge delays.
“They’re not allowing the main flow of traffic through long enough, and it’s backing up all along the N24, down O’Mahony Avenue, across town, back up by the Sean Healy Park, it’s causing unbelievable problems,” Cllr Bourke said.
Cllr Bourke also suggested that school crossing wardens should receive additional training to minimise disruption to traffic while maintaining pedestrian safety.
“We have a lollipop man that goes out by Presentation Secondary School, and he stops the traffic every time a single individual comes along to cross the road.
“These lollipop people, can we get proper training because every time a pedestrian comes along, they walk out with the lollipop sign, and they stop the traffic, and the traffic gets no chance whatsoever to flow through,” he said.
Cllr Bourke asked district engineer Michael Scully if something could be done about the new traffic lights and the training of lollypop people to keep traffic moving through the town more smoothly.
In response, Mr Scully said that he would look into the issues that were raised by the Fianna Fáil councillor.
“From what Cllr Bourke is saying, I need to go and have a look at all the pedestrian crossings along that road, so I’ll need to have a serious look at all of them,” he said.
“Likewise with the training of the lollipop man, we’ll go and talk to the lads about what training they have or whether they need a refresher,” Mr Scully added.