Tuam’s traffic lights are controlled from Dublin!

Tuam’s traffic woes are being dictated by a private firm in Dublin which has control of the three sets of traffic lights along the N17 through the town.

But officials of Galway County Council insist that the traffic is flowing more freely through the town since the synchronising changes took place earlier this year.

Members of Tuam Municipal Council said they were receiving complaints from motorists about the movement of traffic through the town and that motorists coming from side roads were not being adequately accommodated.

But Senior Engineer with Galway County Council, Sean Langan told councillors that the three sets of light through Tuam on the N17 were synchronised to the effect that they were all on green at the same time and that this allowed for a better flow of traffic. The lights are being dictated by a private firm in Dublin.

The matter was raised by Cllr Karey McHugh who said that despite the works on the motorway and Tuam bypass, there was still a problem with traffic through the town and requested to know if the synchronisation of the lights had been changed to facilitated a greater flow.

“I have been informed that there are still major delays through the town and this should not be the case and this is why I am calling for the Tuam bypass to be open ahead of schedule.

“I am being told that the Tuam bypass could be finished well before the motorway scheme so there is no reason why it cannot be opened as soon as possible,” Cllr McHugh added.

The independent councillor said that the existing lights on the N17 through Tuam needed to be consistently monitored because there was always going to be delays in view of the works being carried out.

Senior Engineer Sean Langan told councillors that the lights in Tuam were being controlled by a company in Dublin who had an emphasis on facilitating the free flow of traffic through the town.

While the lights in the morning accommodates traffic coming from the side roads, the situation is completely different in the evenings when priority is given to traffic along the N17.

“All of the lights are green at the one time which facilitates a better flow of traffic through the town,” Mr Langan said. He added that the situation would be monitored on a continuous basis.

Cllr Shaun Cunniffe said that there should be a better mechanism for motorists coming off the Ballygaddy Road and Old Road in Tuam during peak times.

He believes that motorists are caught for up to 15 minutes in the evenings and he described this as being unacceptable.