5 November 2012

Traffic lights coming to roundabouts?

| johnboy
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isabella and drakeford

Territory and Municipal Services have posted an intriguing warning that they’re installing traffic lights on the roundabout at the intersection of Drakeford and Isabella Drives:

The ACT Government wishes to advise motorists and other road users that there will be changed traffic conditions on Isabella Drive, westbound, at the roundabout intersection with Drakeford Drive between 7.30 am to 9.30 am Wednesday 7 November and Thursday 8 November 2012.

Roads ACT will be undertaking the testing of part-time traffic lights at the roundabout to study the impact on vehicles during morning peak.


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Grail said :

This morning’s traffic was awesome! As in, there were actually gaps in the traffic on Ellerston Avenue so I could exit my cul-de-sac without pulling out in front of speeding rat runners.

The backup of traffic on the roundabout was severely reduced, there were far fewer idiots in my suburb: awesome, bring on the permanent lights!

Moving the lights to the roundabout will not help, the lights are to control flow of traffic into the round about, not through the roundabout. There is a difference. Think chastity belt vs condom.

I disagree. The traffic on Ellerston was exactly the same as usual. The only difference was the traffic banked up on two sides of the roundabout at Isabella/Drakeford instead of just one.

This morning’s traffic was awesome! As in, there were actually gaps in the traffic on Ellerston Avenue so I could exit my cul-de-sac without pulling out in front of speeding rat runners.

The backup of traffic on the roundabout was severely reduced, there were far fewer idiots in my suburb: awesome, bring on the permanent lights!

Moving the lights to the roundabout will not help, the lights are to control flow of traffic into the round about, not through the roundabout. There is a difference. Think chastity belt vs condom.

KB1971 said :

arescarti42 said :

Of course the north side gets more investment in public infrastructure knucklehead, that’s where all the population growth is, while the likes of Tuggeranong are shrinking.

*facepalm*

Tuggeranong is not “shrinking”, there is a slight ebb in its population at the moment, given that there are still areas to be developed in the south the rail should include the south as well as Belconnen and Woden.

After many years of Labour focusing on the north of Canberra and ignoring needed infrastructure in the south it is refreshing to see some work being done. Just because there is no population growth at the moment it doesn’t mean that there has not been in the past. Take Eastern Valley Rise in Conder for example, the increased the size of Banks & Conder by 1/2 but did not duplicate the main road until some years later.

I am not saying that the north should not get it, but there is a city on the south side of the lake.

Tuggeranong is shrinking, the population there fell 8 out of the last 10 years. Over the last decade 2500 people left, about a suburb’s worth, making it the only shrinking district in Canberra.

That said, I take your other points.

it took them a year to build a footbridge down the road, god knows how long for a overpass.

Holden Caulfield said :

Roundabouts with traffic lights; really, has civilisation retreated so far, haha? Soon we’ll have tits on a bull.

It’s the dumbest idea ever. Either return said roundabout to a regular traffic light intersection or maintain the theory of free flowing traffic by putting in a properly designed overpass.

I understand that heavy traffic can make roundabouts unworkable during peak times, but a band-aid solution of traffic lights?! Yeah, nah.

It makes complete sense. Cost a fortune to dig up the roundabout and build a normal intersection. Besides If the current lights are anything to go by, lights would only be active in peak times to aid traffic flow. It will stop people darting through suburbs because they are likely to be met with a red light.

Holden Caulfield10:05 am 06 Nov 12

Roundabouts with traffic lights; really, has civilisation retreated so far, haha? Soon we’ll have tits on a bull.

It’s the dumbest idea ever. Either return said roundabout to a regular traffic light intersection or maintain the theory of free flowing traffic by putting in a properly designed overpass.

I understand that heavy traffic can make roundabouts unworkable during peak times, but a band-aid solution of traffic lights?! Yeah, nah.

arescarti42 said :

Of course the north side gets more investment in public infrastructure knucklehead, that’s where all the population growth is, while the likes of Tuggeranong are shrinking.

*facepalm*

Tuggeranong is not “shrinking”, there is a slight ebb in its population at the moment, given that there are still areas to be developed in the south the rail should include the south as well as Belconnen and Woden.

After many years of Labour focusing on the north of Canberra and ignoring needed infrastructure in the south it is refreshing to see some work being done. Just because there is no population growth at the moment it doesn’t mean that there has not been in the past. Take Eastern Valley Rise in Conder for example, the increased the size of Banks & Conder by 1/2 but did not duplicate the main road until some years later.

I am not saying that the north should not get it, but there is a city on the south side of the lake.

joingler said :

Stinger said :

Wow. They should do that on the Barton Hwy round-a-bout as well!

We need an overpass there like the one on Kings Avenue/Parkes Way.

We also need Gundaroo/William Slim to be duplicated

Totally agree. The whole length of that drive should be dual lane dual carriageway…

I’ve never come across a round-a-bout with a right angle in it before…bloody silly!

gooterz said :

Anna Key said :

Is this one outcome of the election – Zed’s tactics have resulted in the ALP paying attention to something south of Belconnen

Could do with something similar on Sulwood Dve westbound to help clear the tailback on Athllon each morning.

They’ll tax it with the speed camera yet won’t duplicate it.

14 speed camera’s down south. 9 north. Yet only roads on the north are seeing work.
North side even gets a train, that would make more sense down south.

Erindale Drive/Sternberg Cr, it backs up to Isabella Dve via Ashley drive some mornings.

I sometimes think that these roads should be duplicated but with their bottlenecks it would be counter productive.

Primal said :

KB1971 said :

I don’t understand your reasoning.

I think he means that having lights on the eastbound traffic lets more of the southbound traffic through at speed, which makes it harder for the westbound traffic to enter the roundabout. If southbound was being more regularly cut off (or at least slowed down) by eastbound, it would create more opportunities for westbound to go.

Still doesn’t make sense as the increase in southbound traffic there is minimal as taninous said. It is really no different to using the roundabout at any other time.

The only time I have to “run the gauntlet” on that roundabout is if I am heading west in the afternoon with the traffic form Tuggeranong and the City making that part of the intersection busy. In the mornings its fine from the north.

joingler said :

Stinger said :

Wow. They should do that on the Barton Hwy round-a-bout as well!

We need an overpass there like the one on Kings Avenue/Parkes Way.

We also need Gundaroo/William Slim to be duplicated

I totally disagree you knew where you were buying your house or decide ding where to rent. Why should thevrestvof Canberra pay so you can get home quicker. If you didn’t want this problem you shouldn’t live in gungahlin

wildturkeycanoe6:06 am 06 Nov 12

Don’t tell me someone has figured out that roundabouts don’t work and traffic lights are far superior!!!!

gooterz said :

Anna Key said :

Is this one outcome of the election – Zed’s tactics have resulted in the ALP paying attention to something south of Belconnen

Could do with something similar on Sulwood Dve westbound to help clear the tailback on Athllon each morning.

They’ll tax it with the speed camera yet won’t duplicate it.

14 speed camera’s down south. 9 north. Yet only roads on the north are seeing work.
North side even gets a train, that would make more sense down south.

Of course the north side gets more investment in public infrastructure knucklehead, that’s where all the population growth is, while the likes of Tuggeranong are shrinking.

Anna Key said :

Is this one outcome of the election – Zed’s tactics have resulted in the ALP paying attention to something south of Belconnen

Could do with something similar on Sulwood Dve westbound to help clear the tailback on Athllon each morning.

They’ll tax it with the speed camera yet won’t duplicate it.

14 speed camera’s down south. 9 north. Yet only roads on the north are seeing work.
North side even gets a train, that would make more sense down south.

Thanks Primal – exactly.

Bring it on….. this is a great idea. the wait time northbound in the morning can be incredibly long and because the number of southbound cars are few the cars coming from the west get a clear run while northbound can take up to 15 minutes just from Noorooma, let alone from Johnson.

Is this one outcome of the election – Zed’s tactics have resulted in the ALP paying attention to something south of Belconnen

Could do with something similar on Sulwood Dve westbound to help clear the tailback on Athllon each morning.

Northside gets public works. South gets screwed with speed cameras timed roads and useless traffic light round abouts.

Only 4 more years….

KB1971 said :

I don’t understand your reasoning.

I think he means that having lights on the eastbound traffic lets more of the southbound traffic through at speed, which makes it harder for the westbound traffic to enter the roundabout. If southbound was being more regularly cut off (or at least slowed down) by eastbound, it would create more opportunities for westbound to go.

miz said :

Good plan – people have to run the gauntlet to cross that roundabout going westbound, very dangerous. indeed. IMHO, it was only made worse by the lights stopping the east bound traffic.
.

How is it dangerous? There have been no accidents directly attributed to the traffic lights now?

How are they running the gauntlet? Light goes green, cars move up to the next line and gives way the light traffic to the right. Meanwhile the heavier traffic to the left moves while it can & then gives way when there is a car on the roundabout.

I don’t understand your reasoning.

Good plan – people have to run the gauntlet to cross that roundabout going westbound, very dangerous. indeed. IMHO, it was only made worse by the lights stopping the east bound traffic.

They are seriously going to have to widen Isabella Dr sometime, too. It makes no sense to get people thru the intersection only to get held up with a merge into a single lane. Should be a dual carriage way – the land is ready and waiting.

I said they’d need to do this years ago when they installed the silly set of Northbound only lights.

Bravo for catching on TAMS.

Have people not heard that “Roundabouts represent freedom; roundabouts represent liberty; roundabouts represent democracy at its finest”.

While traffic lights are “…a Bolshevist menace”.

According to Peter Phelps from the NSW parliament anyway
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod%5Cparlment%5Chanstrans.nsf/V3ByKey/LC20110812?open&refNavID=HA5_1

Search the text for “Speed and safety cameras”. Canberra gets a positive mention.

dks00k said :

That’s not such a bad idea if it proceeds. I gather its intent is to reduce the long line of traffic heading northbound on Drakeford Drive in the morning. Perhaps it will reduce the number of morons who turn left into Athelon Dr and u-turn at the Ankatel St roundabout to avoid the queue.

However what I would like to see is something to assist Isabella Dr traffic heading West in the PM…..

Not only do they U-Turn, but they stream through Bonython as well. I think lights may help, although I think in all directions would be beneficial and they need to be at the intersection, not set back like the ones they have now.

Tetranitrate2:39 pm 05 Nov 12

Chop71 said :

joingler said :

Stinger said :

Wow. They should do that on the Barton Hwy round-a-bout as well!

We need an overpass there like the one on Kings Avenue/Parkes Way.

We also need Gundaroo/William Slim to be duplicated

I don’t use these roads but agree with you

Same, Gundaroo Drive being single lane and splitting then re-merging for every roundabout or set of lights is a bit of a joke.

joingler said :

Stinger said :

Wow. They should do that on the Barton Hwy round-a-bout as well!

We need an overpass there like the one on Kings Avenue/Parkes Way.

We also need Gundaroo/William Slim to be duplicated

I don’t use these roads but agree with you

KB1971 said :

That whole roundabout needs to go, it banks the traffic back up to Johnson Dve some mornings. It need a set of lights at none of the other intersections on Drakeford bank up like that, even at the busiest times.

Funny – it used to be a set of lights years ago and everyone thought the roundabout would fix the problem.

There are currently part time signals Eastbound on Athllon Drive into this roundabout, which control traffic exiting the town centre precinct into Isabella Drive and Drakeford Drive. These lights are about 50m back from the roundabout, allowing a few cars to get through and queue into the roundabout. The main benefit of these lights is to allow Southbound traffic in the evening to get through the roundabout, reducing travel times for people heading South to e.g.: Conder and Gordon.

In the morning peak minutes there is a large volume of traffic heading North on Drakeford Drive which gets cut off by traffic entering from Isabella Drive, heading West to the town centre precinct and North to Kambah and beyond. A significant proportion of this Westbound traffic on Isabella Drive consists of vehicles that leave Drakeford Drive onto Johnson Drive, rat-run through Ellerston Avenue then Drumston Street and then turn left onto Isabella Drive.

Since it only takes a few cars per minute entering from Isabella Drive to jam up Drakeford Drive, the rat runners are making the commute worse for everyone. Thus installing the temporary signals will have two immediate benefits: first, morning peak Northbound traffic on Drakeford Drive will flow through the roundabout more freely and second, there will be less traffic on Ellerston Avenue speeding through two school zones.

These lights can’t come quickly enough!

They’ve been on the eastbound lead-in for PM traffic for a few years at least, so this is a trial on the westbound lead-in in the AM.

That whole roundabout needs to go, it banks the traffic back up to Johnson Dve some mornings. It need a set of lights at none of the other intersections on Drakeford bank up like that, even at the busiest times.

That’s not such a bad idea if it proceeds. I gather its intent is to reduce the long line of traffic heading northbound on Drakeford Drive in the morning. Perhaps it will reduce the number of morons who turn left into Athelon Dr and u-turn at the Ankatel St roundabout to avoid the queue.

However what I would like to see is something to assist Isabella Dr traffic heading West in the PM…..

Stinger said :

Wow. They should do that on the Barton Hwy round-a-bout as well!

We need an overpass there like the one on Kings Avenue/Parkes Way.

We also need Gundaroo/William Slim to be duplicated

pete09 said :

Haven’t these lights been there for ages?

They have temporary lights northbound, the release specifies westbound.

Haven’t these lights been there for ages?

Wow. They should do that on the Barton Hwy round-a-bout as well!

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