Traffic lights disappointment

So, something of another disappointment, with the news that today's upgrade of the traffic lights in Kilcullen did not include the addition of a much-needed filter onto the New Abbey Road for traffic coming from the south, writes Brian Byrne.

The work involved the substitution of the older tungsten lamps with LED ones, thus cutting down on electricity usage and trimming the carbon footprint of the facility.

Kildare County Council told our local representative, Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer, that it is part of the 'ongoing maintenance programme'.

That the opportunity to add the filter wasn't availed of will come as a big disappointment to local motorists whose stress levels rise every time they try to turn right coming from the Nicholastown direction.

The need for the filter has been an issue of concern at least since 2006, when it was highlighted on the Diary. We have reported many times on it since, in many instances when it was raised by various local representatives on Kilcullen's behalf.

In 2007, Kilcullen Community Action called for the operation of the lights to be examined. In that same year, Kildare County Council responded to a query from the Diary to say that the requirements of all traffic and pedestrian movements made the current sequence 'the preferred choice'.

In 2012, when Kilcullen was part of the Athy MD, Cllr Ivan Keatley called for a filter to be added to the lights. The Council responded that 'some of the equipment is obsolete' and that the provision of a new filter light 'would be considered as part of any upgrade'. They said that an application for relevant funding had been made to the National Transport Authority.

Also in 2012, the Council sought opinions from residents and businesses on whether there should be major changes at the crossroads.

In 2014 changes were made to the shaping of the junction by the Council, but this didn't make any appreciable difference to the operation of the intersection. And no changes were made to the lights.

In 2015, Cllr Billy Hillis asked the Council to consider and cost the provision of the filter light.

In 2016, Deputy Martin Heydon conducted his own survey of businesses and residents about the design of the junction, with a view to having changes made 'should funding be secured'. Towards the end of the same year, the Council conducted an official traffic count on the New Abbey Road side of the junction.

In the second half 2017, the Diary was informed that the lights system was scheduled for a full upgrade 'early in the new year' (2018).

In 2018 Cllr Billy Hillis again had a motion debated asking the Council to consider and cost the installation of the needed right turning filter light.

In November 2019, work was carried out on the lights over two nights. But this didn't include the addition of the filter.

In April 2021, here we are again ... but at least the town's carbon footprint is, marginally, improved.

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