Too Many Traffic Lights

Why does Almuñécar have so many traffic-light junctions on the N-340 whereas its neighbours have none?

ALM N-340 Traffic Lights Las PalomasOK, if you travel along the N-340 from Maro to Motril you will find one set of traffic lights in La Herradura, four sets in Almuñécar, none in Salobreña and Motril.

OK, the N-340 doesn’t pass through the urban areas of Motril or Salobreña whereas, in the case of La Paloma  in Almuñécar, it does.

But, and this is a big but, Nerja used to have at least half a dozen traffic lights from Fuente del Baden to the other end of the town, but virtually all of them were  replaced by roundabouts.

From the Guardia Civil junction in Almuñécar to the P-4 Junction you have four sets, one of which is a regulated pedestrian crossing, but you’re not out of it because you have another two sets in Taramay – again, one is a regulated pedestrian  crossing. Why are they not replaced  with roundabouts?

OK, the Guardia Civil junction  would have to be a double roundabout  like  the one in San Sebastian, because it is a staggered junction.  The La Paloma gasolinera (main entrance) has ample  room to be replaced by a roundabout, as does  the P-4 junction and the same goes for the Taramay traffic light as you come out of the tunnel.

La Herradura needs a decent entrance from the N-340 instead of the hill-climb junction  that exists, as well.

What are your thoughts?

(News:  Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)

  6 comments for “Too Many Traffic Lights

  1. Louis Borgo
    April 19, 2023 at 12:04 am

    I would like to see a roundabout at the exit for Cotobro that would allow for going in the direction of La Herradura. As it is now, we who live in that area, in order to go to La Herradura and points west of there, have to go all the way to the Guardia Civil junction to be able to take the n-340 west.

  2. Frank Moss
    April 18, 2023 at 12:50 pm

    I would first prefer a new roundabout where it is most useful (at the urbanisations of Curumbico – Loma and Panorama – and Delta), and only later substituting some for traffic lights

  3. Darren
    April 18, 2023 at 7:49 am

    The urban area part is important, I think. If someone hit a roundabout at the sort of speeds you can achieve on a through road, they could go airborne and end up in somebody’s house.

  4. April 18, 2023 at 7:28 am

    Trevor: what are they? A pain in the arse but seriously, yes, I forgot them.

    The lights that are designed to slow you down before the main lights are dangerous because few people take any notice of them, as even if you are doing less than 50 they’re still in red.

    Furthermore, they are pointless if you’re coming from the Salambina direction and intend to turn up into the Monte because you are not even going through the main junction (zebra/Monte exit).

  5. Fred Davies
    April 17, 2023 at 10:26 pm

    Roundabouts in general are worse for cyclists and pedestrians relative to traffic lights….. they cost a lot more as well

  6. Trevor Watson
    April 17, 2023 at 9:26 pm

    What are the lights at the Monte de los Almendros/ La Caleta junction?

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