Real time traffic lights on cards to ease N17 congestion

By JACQUELINE HOGGE A NEW system of â€Ëœreal time' traffic lights could help improve the ongoing congestion of the N17 through Tuam within the coming months. An application for NRA funding is being finalised by officials from Galway Co Council who are hoping to install the new system in the town following the completion of the Big Dig works in the first half of next year. [private] The MOVA system involves technology that can determine actual traffic flow and respond with traffic signals accordingly. At a cost of €80,000, the new system would replace the lights at three junctions along the road through the town, at the Weir Road, Tuam Shopping Centre and Ballygaddy Road, which have long been blamed for lengthy tailbacks at peak times. The current system works on programmed settings, which don't allow for variations in traffic flow at various times during the day. Despite the settings being adjustable, and an extended programme to account for increased volumes during peak traffic times, the current system has been blamed as one of the factors that contributed to excessive traffic delays in the town. Director of Services for Roads Frank Gilmore told this month's council meeting that traffic management plan reviews had commenced in a number of areas including Headford and Oranmore in recent weeks and that work was planned to review Tuam's traffic management plan in the new year. Issues to resolve 'We have one or two issues to resolve before we can engage in a review of Tuam's traffic management plan, namely the traffic signals along the N17, but this cannot be done until the works ongoing in the town are complete,' he said. 'We have to wait until the N17 works are complete for it to be resurfaced and after that we can focus on upgrading and replacing the current traffic signal system, which has been identified as one of the problems leading to congestion through the town.' Cllr Shaun Cunniffe asked that the traffic management plan be reviewed in time for the completion of the Big Dig works, so that any works necessary could follow on as soon as possible. 'I think everyone wants to see an improvement in Tuam's traffic flow sooner rather than later so it would make sense to dovetail any works necessary before Coffey's finish the Big Dig,' he said. Mr Gilmore responded that it would be possible to bring the review process forward but that actual works would not be possible until after March when the Big Dig was scheduled to finish. Cllr Sean Canney queried why any work would have to wait until the Big Dig finished and said at the very least the review process should be commenced as soon as possible to ensure there were no delays in work being carried out. 'I don't see why the review can't happen now as it's definitely something we need to revisit before the Big Dig works are completed,' he said. Mr Gilmore reiterated that the issue of lights along the N17 had to be resolved before the town's overall traffic management plan could be reviewed. 'We can't resurface that road until all the work there is completed and after that we have to secure funding for the new lights system, which will be applied for as part of our overall submission for funding for 2012,' he said. 'The traffic management plan will be reviewed and whatever measures deemed necessary will be implemented but there are things that need to be dealt with first before that can happen.' Meanwhile, Cllr Mary Hoade welcomed the review of Headford's traffic management plan, which she said was 'long overdue'. 'People in Headford have put up with a lot in terms of traffic issues in the town in recent years, from having roads dug up and restrictions on traffic flow, so I welcome this review and hope its findings will be implemented as soon as possible,' she said. [/private]