I ask District Engineer Darragh
O’Boyle to immediately provide banking and some additional
passing bays on both sides of Local Road No. L-7465-0 serving the
townland’s of Gortinee, Mullagh onto Derrybrack in Annaduff.
There is a severe drop on both sides of the road, as much as 4ft in
some areas, which leaves it very dangerous.
This is a very busy local road with traffic but with a lot of
people using this for walking. With no verge to stand in, there is
genuine concern in the neighbourhood that someone could get hurt
while out walking or that a vehicle could slip down the side of the
road.
Minutes:
“I ask District Engineer Darragh O’Boyle to immediately provide banking and some additional passing bays on both sides of Local Road No. L-7465-0 serving the townlands of Gortinee, Mullagh onto Derrybrack in Annaduff. There is a severe drop on both sides of the road, as much as 4ft in some areas, which leaves it very dangerous. This is a very busy local road with traffic but with a lot of people using this for walking. With no verge to stand in, there is genuine concern in the neighbourhood that someone could get hurt while out walking or that a vehicle could slip down the side of the road."
Report by Roads - General
"It will be spring/summer before the district office can get to verge works in this area due to the high level of the Shannon and the nature of earthworks. The new road surface is wider than the previous road surface and the lay-byes will be repaired when the conditions allow."
Councillor Guckian noted the reply and remarked that his biggest quibble with it was the time lag to deal with this grave situation. He said that people are afraid on this stretch of road. He expressed a real fear that someone would go off the road. He also raised concerns regarding two cars which may have to pass at this location. One of them would have to back up to a crossing to allow the other one to pass. Passing Bays in this location are not wide enough or long enough to facilitate two cars passing safely at the moment. This is very dangerous as it is a bog area and has deep drains on either side. He suggested a number of things for this area which could alleviate the problems;
· Proposed cutaway to allow cars pass safely.
· Erection of Warning Notices.
· More Reflectors – not enough in situ.
· Bollards.
· Maybe a one-way system on the road.
· Any lay-bys need to be large enough to accommodate trucks as they use this road on occasion.
Councillor McGowan praised the great work done of this stretch of road. He also reiterated Councillor Guckian’s concerns that locals were very fearful of the drop off on each side of the road. He said that this road is a very popular road for walking and is proving unsafe. He commented that it was a pity that this work was not carried out first before the road was raised. Concluding, he asked Mr O’Boyle would it be possible for the passing bays to be extended to make them a bit longer.
Mr O’Boyle responded that this work was carried out as part of funding under a Climate Change. The funding was received in September and had to be spent in November. The main aim of the work was to raise the road out of the River Shannon, this involved adding a foot onto the height of the road and this has created the issue with verges. As a result of ground conditions in the area at present, this work can only be carried out during drier weather i.e. summer work. Landowners in the area are aware of this. He also said that 100’s of reflectors have been installed along this stretch of road, it is mostly local traffic using this road and they are familiar with the road situation. He said that the new road is now 1 to 1.5 foot wider and when the weather and river levels permit work would commence on building up the verges.
Both Councillors were agreeable to this.