COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

MOTION NO. 22

MOTION: Councillor W. Lavelle

That this Area Committee, noting the findings of the report, presented at the November meeting, on traffic congestion in the Lucan South area; and noting in particular that MOVA-recorded vehicle usage of Outer Ring Road junctions in 2010 was at, or in excess of, projected usage in 2019; and further noting the significant safety risks posed by motorists queuing side-by-side on the approach roads and encroaching onto cycle-lanes; RECOMMENDS that the Manager implement junction improvements to the Ballyowen/ Willsbrook, Castle Road (Penny Hill) and Griffeen Avenue junctions, including traffic light re-sequencing and creation of new dedicated filter turning lanes on the approach roads to the ORR; and requests the Manager to present detailed drawings showing such proposals for discussion with the elected members.

REPORT:

Observation of the junction operation along the outer ring road as presented in the report at the last ACM notes that progression at each junction was such that the side roads cleared consistently, in so far as only one or two vehicles were approaching the junction as the signals went to red, allowing traffic held further back to approach the junction. The provision of additional lanes can only be effective, particularly at Willsbrook Road, where traffic queues on the roads heading across the N4 are uncongested. Currently when this is the case the need for the additional lanes dissipates. Increasing the capacity approaching the origin of congestion can only further exacerbate the situation and it is not recommended that an additional lane be provided at this junction.  The practice whereby 2 lanes are made by traffic at this location only makes the situation worse causing difficulties for cyclists and traffic exiting the side roads.

At the junctions further south, congestion is a result of specific activities and not general traffic (Shopping at Castle Road and school traffic at Griffeen Avenue). Improvements were made previously at Castle Road to assist detection of vehicles at the shopping area. The Griffeen Avenue approach to the outer ring road is already two lane.

This road is designed with the needs of all road users in mind, this results in the combination of vehicle and cycle lanes on the approach to junctions. New road schemes will continue to have this type of configuration. The encroachment onto cycle tracks to make two lane queues approaching junctions is undesirable but may be a factor until this road configuration becomes the norm.