Buncrana is to get new traffic lights in a bid to tackle the traffic congestion problem in the town.
In a report to the councillors at the monthly meeting of the Inishowen Municipal, roads manager Seamus Hopkins said they had a number of proposals to present to try and tackle the recent traffic problems.
These included yellow boxes/hatched areas, timer controlled traffic lights or vehicle actuated traffic signals.
Mr. Hopkins said these lights would replace the existing pedestrian lights at St. Mary’s Road, at the Westend side of the town.
He said the timer controlled lights would cost around €20,000 where as the vehicle actuated ones, which would detect if traffic was building up at St. Mary’s Road would cost double the cost at €40,000.
Buncrana councillors Nicholas Crossan and Rena Donaghey both agreed that the dearer traffic lights would be the best option.
Cllr. Crossan said if the works were to be carried out next week it wouldn’t be soon enough as the problem with traffic is getting progressively worse on a daily basis.
Mr. Hopkins suggested that they install yellow boxes, costing around €2,000, just off the Westend roundabout at the Cockhill Road and St. Mary’s Road but Cllr. Crossan disagreed.
“Yellow boxes don’t make any difference in Buncrana so you may save that €2,000 straight away,” said Cllr. Crossan.
“There will be a riot in Buncrana if this traffic problem isn’t sorted out, the traffic jams have been unreal every day.”
Cllr. Donaghey said if the project cost €40,000 it would be ‘€40,000 well spent’. She said the traffic at SuperValu on the Cockhill Road every day is shocking and they don’t want it be backed up in the town.
Similarly Cllr. Crossan said the congestion in the town was causing more traffic jams around Marian Park and similar areas because people couldn’t drive up the Main Street. He said they were not designed for a huge number of cars.
Mr. Hopkins said they were presenting the ideas now but he said the money would be coming from next year’s road budget.
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