[gipi]

For those who aren't regular commuters into or out of Drogheda, thought I'd give you the heads-up on a change of road markings at one of the junctions on the way into the town from the Dublin Rd side.

After you pass the Black Bull pub and Glanbia, and before the railway station, there is a set of traffic lights with a left turn to the Bryanstown Cross Route. There has always been a left filter on the lights, but the road markings weren't 100% clear and very often you'd find a vehicle stopped waiting to go straight on blocking the left turn. It's quite a narrow stretch of road with just about enough space for 2 lanes.

The ideal solution would have been to widen the road slightly by taking out the grass verge in front of the houses there....but instead, the council have re-marked the road.

There are now 2 very clear lanes marked on the road heading towards Drogheda - one for going straight on, one for turning left.
No problem there!

There are also 2 very clear lanes marked on the road coming from Drogheda - one for going straight on, one for turning right.

No problem either, you might say.....however, the vehicle coming from town waiting to turn right is now directly in the path of the vehicle heading straight on from the opposite direction! Traffic moving through the junction towards Drogheda must move left very quickly as they pass through the junction - and hope that some eejit hasn't decided to go straight from the left filter lane, or that the vehicle turning right hasn't moved forward.

For bikes who might filter along the outside of the right lane, it could be quite dangerous because the biker might not get back to the correct side of the road easily. For those who filter between the lanes, be aware that the car on your right will move to the left pretty sharpish.

My own opinion is that it's an accident waiting to happen (at a junction where accidents have already happened) - please don't let it happen to you.

(I hope my descriptions didn't make you dizzy, or put you off visiting Drogheda!).

[CBR 46]

Thanks Geraldine,

Thanks for the heads up, I'll be checking it out personally tomorrow morning.

Earlier this year, whilst out for a day's photorallying, my pal came off at that very junction whilst stopping due to diesel...so when it's wet you'll have to contend with changing direction as well as potential diesel on the road. Take care

[Blue Max]

Once again, thanks for the heads up. I will look at same later this Wednesday evening. However, knowing the junction as I do, and following your excellent appraisal, it certainly sounds like the ultra effort of one of our esteemed road planners, already well known for West St. et al.

Poor old Drogheda, there just seems to be no joined up thinking when it comes to traffic or traffic movements.

[gipi]

True Paul - no joined-up thinking....from the same outfit that can't switch off the traffic lights at Scotch Hall Shopping Centre (at the car park entrance) when the centre's closed!

[Stellar]

gipi, on 16 November 2011 - 04:06 PM, said:

....from the same outfit that can't switch off the traffic lights at Scotch Hall Shopping Centre (at the car park entrance) when the centre's closed!

Oh, that one really does my head in
Thanks for the heads up

[delooney]

Yep, well spotted Gipi, another stupid solution to a problem that doesn't really exist, there's no real need for a left-turning filter lane, traffic is never held up there for too long and now they've arranged this dumb-assed set-up where opposing traffic is directed onto a collision course! I'd love to meet the clown who signed this one off!

[CBR 46]

Was there this morning, no big deal imo

[gipi]

Thanks for the feedback, Alfie!

I read over on boards.ie that the road markings at the junction were changed again last night.... the right turn filter lane for traffic coming from Drogheda has been removed! Didn't see it myself this morning, so not sure what the layout is now.

Must be a "suck it and see" type of road management policy!!

[CBR 46]

The stop box for traffic turning right coming out of Drawda is gone, so if they stay behind the line there should be no problemos

[gipi]

Ah - the junction should be a bit more straightforward then! Thanks again

[gipi]

Just to prove how "well thought out" this bit of painting by the borough council was.....the road markings have been changed again (3 times in one week, must be a record!!).

The latest version (as of today, Sunday!) now has 2 lanes heading from Dublin towards Drogheda (one going straight, one turning left), and a single lane coming from Drogheda towards Dulbin - there's no right filter lane here any more!.

Should make the junction safer, and cause tailbacks all the way back towards the railway station if a large vehicle is turning right and can't progress!

We await next week's version.....

[Positron]

With the current / latest markings, wouldn't it be better if they change the signal sequence to give the southbound traffic a good 10-20 seconds before letting the northbound thru. This would need a filter light for southbound traffic to stop them when the northbound is green. They could even let the traffic from Bryanstown manor turning to Drogheda thru while all of the northbound is waiting at red.

[gipi]

Ah now, Positron, that would require thinking......

(see my post above about the Scotch Hall traffic lights!)