Council tweaks the timing of controversial N2 traffic lights

The National Roads Authority (NRA) is reviewing the programming of the traffic lights at the controversial Primatestown junction on the N2, Deputy Thomas Byrne has revealed. The junction has been the cause of major tailbacks since the new traffic lights were switched on in late December. Ashbourne Gardai last week reported 40-minute tailbacks on the national primary route as a result of the new lights. The NRA is seriously considering giving N2 commuters full priority at peak times at the junction north of Ashbourne, Deputy Byrne said. "This would be popular with commuters but controversial among residents who use the Primatestown junction on a regular basis," he added. Meath County Council has changed the timings slightly on the lights to provide more green time for N2 traffic, he explained. "I am told that a further review will take place by the end of this week, which is necessary to find out what impact school traffic would have and, of course, to see what impact the end of the cold snap would have." Deputy Byrne said he had written to the NRA and Meath County Council to highlight the traffic delays being experienced by commuters along the route following an avalanche of complaints from the commuting public. "This is a particularly dangerous section of the N2 and road safety has to be a priority, but we have to ensure also that there are no unnecessary delays for the travelling public along this busy commuter route. The traffic delays that constituents are reporting to me seem to be just too long and it is causing widespread frustration," said the Fianna Fail TD.