To box or not to box the Mall West junction?
On any given day at approximately 4.30pm or 5pm when rush-hour traffic begins to mount, this junction becomes something of a 'free for all'...
To box or not to box? That is the question, and it's a question we repeatedly hear asked by Armagh's motorists who frequent the Mall West junction.
To the pedestrian or unfamiliar motorist, it's a relatively innocuous junction. There are well placed and unobscured traffic lights, an abundance of signage and clearly marked directional lanes to guide road users.
However, for the driver who meets the junction on a regular basis - there might be a little something needed to help improve traffic flow.
For, on any given day at approximately 4.30pm or 5pm when rush-hour traffic begins to mount, this junction becomes something of a 'free for all'.
Typically, traffic moving for a green light on Mall West turning right onto Barrack Street will find that the traffic stopped for red lights at the Barrack Street/Newry Road junction have not yet moved forward - causing a barricade of cars to form on the gaol-adjacent junction itself.
Then, when the lights turn green for city-bound motorists moving off Victoria Road - they have no where to go!
It's not uncommon for motorists heading in the opposite direction along Barrack Street towards Victoria Road to also be caught in the backlog.
It's particularly frustrating when a lorry or two (sorry - but you are longer than a car!) get caught in the unpainted no-man's land.
What's the answer? Well, some say, a box junction.
Would a distinctive, hatched, yellow grid make the difference and allow for traffic to flow as intended to the signal of traffic lights? Rather than allow stream after stream of traffic from the same side to continue coming while the rest sit and wait for their eventual turn?
Leave us your thoughts in the comments...
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Like in America at peak times have one of them useless parking patrol officers that walk around the streets with there head in there mobiles stand in that area and keep the traffic moving regardless of the lights 😉 from 4.30 to 5.30. Simple
Traffic lights at Mall West & Newry road need to be linked or reset. Also CONTINUALLY vehicles from Mall West turning onto Barrack street go through RED lights. This has been reported before but nothing done. It seems Departments won't act until someone is killed!!!!