Councillors seek action on traffic lights issues in Dundalk

Issues relating to traffic lights at a number of locations in the town were raised by councillors last week, at the Dundalk Municipal District March meeting.

Cllr Sean Kelly was first to speak on the matter, highlighting issues with the traffic lights at the junction of Vincent Avenue and Dublin Street, as well as lights at the Long Walk which were out of order for over a week, according to the local councillor. Cllr Kelly acknowledged that there are plans for "major investment" into traffic lights in the Dundalk area but asked if there was a timeline available on when works would be carried out.

Cllr Kelly commented that he has seen on local groups on social media, that people are becoming more irritated with traffic light issues in Dundalk, adding that he sat waiting at one set of traffic lights in the town recently for six minutes before they changed.

The meeting heard in response from Senior Engineer, Paddy Connolly, that the lights at the Vincent Avenue would be sorted out "very soon" and that he would get back to Cllr Kelly on his query for a timeline.

Cllr Conor Keelan then highlighted issues with the traffic lights at the junction of the Ecco Road and Castletown Road. Cllr Keelan said he had been informed that they had been hit by cars a number of months ago, and are now working in a haphazard fashion and that the timing sequence needs to be reset.

Cllr Keelan also mentioned the traffic lights at the train station on the Carrick Road, saying that he had been informed that they had been affected after a child stuck a lollipop on the system, which affected the sequencing of the lights. Cllr Keelan said that the lollipop had been removed but issues with the sequencing remained, and asked for them to be checked.

The Fianna Fáil councillor went on to bring up the traffic lights at the Dowdallshill Graveyard, which he told the meeting were button operated and were installed when ramps were being installed on the road. Cllr Keelan said that the button which operates on a 24 hour basis, was keeping some locals awake at night by the noise that comes from the lights when activated. 

Cllr Keelan asked if they could be replaced with an ordinary traffic light system that did not emit the noise, adding that he had been told that it was initially installed to aid people with sight issues, but questioned if it was effective at that location as it was affecting the lives of some local residents.

The meeting was told in response by Mr Connolly that the issues with the traffic lights at the train station and the Ecco Road junction would be investigated, but went on to say that the lights at the graveyard were pedestrian lights, that the sound was to aid people with sight issues, and that more audio signals that aided people with sight issues were sought for traffic lights in the town.

Cllr Keelan came back to ask if something could be done with the traffic lights at this particular location and asked if his proposal could be looked at, due to the noise that was affecting local residents. Mr Connolly said they would look into it to see if something could be done, including perhaps seeing if the volume could be turned down at this particular system.