Action sought to tackle peak-time traffic delays on Clare’s busiest routes

Peak-time traffic delays along one of Ennis’s busiest routes have prompted calls for a review of traffic light timings to help ease congestion and improve travel times.

Fianna Fail Councillor Antoinette Baker Bashua highlighted the issue at the October meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, outlined the main corridor in the town from Captain Mac's Cross to Cornmarket Street, "is one of the busiest thoroughfares in Ennis town."

"It serves as a key route for commuters, school traffic, access to local businesses and links to the regional road network."

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She also acknowledged that "the public has raised concerns about increasing delays along this stretch, particularly during morning and late afternoon peaks times. Long queues often form at signalised junctions causing congestion to spill onto adjoining streets due to insufficient green-time at traffic signals."

"For example morning traffic entering the town on Clare Road is particularly heavy, and vehicles turning right onto Old Goal Road experience insufficient green-time at the traffic signal, creating a backlog that further exacerbates delays along the corridor."

"In addition, the timings on the traffic lights at the junction of the Kilrush Road and Carmody Street and again at the Woodquay intersection need to be reviewed to give sufficient time to the heaviest traffic volumes. The timings should also change to reflect evening peak time traffic."

Cllr Baker Bashua proposed a review of signal timings and phasing as a possible solution requesting that the council take these measures in consultation with its traffic signals contractor and relevant agencies.

She outlined that this may help improve traffic flow during peak congestion periods, reduce unnecessary delays at busier then usual times, enhance the overall efficiency of the corridor as a key route in Ennis. 

These proposed improved adjustments and optimisation of signals, Cllr Baker Bashua said would provide "both short-term relief and long-term benefits for road users within the town."

Donnagh Murphy, Senior Executive Engineer, responded to the motion explaining: "Upgrade works to the signalised junctions at both Carmody St (Darcy’s Corner) and Kilrush Road took place this year. These junctions were physically connected via underground ducting and a new traffic  signal controller at Carmody St (Darcy’s corner) was installed with an adaptive control system called MOVA.

"These works were constructed in mid-summer of this year and were subsequently configured  in early September to adapt to the traffic associated with the new school term. An efficiency in terms  of traffic flow should be noticeable at this location over the coming months."

Microprocessor Optimised Vehicle Actuation (MOVA) is a traffic control system which automatically adapts to traffic flow conditions  and pedestrian requirements at the junctions automatically versus traditional traffic lights which are on a pre-set timer.

Murphy also outlined that two key locations in the town with existing traffic signal controllers that are not able to be upgraded to the MOVA system currently, he explained that both the Clare Road (Tyre Centre) and the Station Road are "optimised at this present time. Due to the lifespan of the controllers in place at these locations, both are obsolete and not reconfigurable."

"If the traffic signals at these junctions were refurbished it would  be possible to install more appropriate timing sequences which would more accurately cope with the  traffic requirements in the areas. As part of a refurbishment process, and following consultation with  our traffic consultants, it would be possible to install the MOVA adaptive control system outlined  above, subject to adequate funding."

He outlined how with the above proposals, it would be ideal to have "a laneway re-configuration at these junctions, however following a desktop analysis, this is not feasible due to space requirements and challenges associated with carriageway widths."