COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

MOTION NO. 15

MOTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

"That this Committee notes the many reports and complaints from Lucan residents and commuters about recent worsening of traffic congestion in the mornings on the Adamstown/Newcastle Road in the vicinity of Superquinn, and on approach roads, and requests the Manager to make a report on any measures taken by the Council to address the problems, including changes in the sequencing of traffic lights in the area, particularly at Esker Church."

REPORT:

Since September the level of congestion has increased when compared to previous years. This is primarily due to capacity provided in recent years being finally used up and any additional growth in traffic causing congested conditions. Greater flows of traffic are experienced on main roads and consequently on other roads as driver either commence or complete their trips. The N4 now carries over 100,000 vehicles each day.

The council's Traffic Section has recently made some changes to the timings and sequence of the signals with a view to increasing throughput on the Newcastle Rd. In addition ANPR cameras have been installed on the Newcastle Rd to accurately measure journey times.

Results so far seem to indicate a reduction in times compared to those previously reported.

The signal sequence at the Hillcrest junction includes 23 seconds of non-green time per cycle. This is the addition of the minimum safety allowance between the different manoeuvres at the junction, this non-green time cannot be reduced.

The next time saving option that could be made is to remove the right turn into Hillcrest from the N4 Interchange  with this traffic using the roundabout at Esker Drive / Superquin or Dodsborough at the western end of Hillcrest.