Councillors dismayed by response on road near Kill GFC
“We’re only looking for paint,” began Fianna Fáil Councillor Aiden Fitzpatrick, raising the fourth issue regarding road safety at a recent Bailieborough Cootehill Municipal District Meeting.
Highlighting what he deemed a serious safety concern at Kill GFC and the Corravoggy road junction, Cllr Fitzpatrick stated while it is an 80km/hr road, many motorists are driving speeds of 100-130km/hr.
He outlined those wishing to turn must stop on the main road while other vehicles speed past in both directions.
Cllr Fitzpatrick stated while sitting at the junction, he often wonders, “Jesus when am I going to be killed?”
He deemed several incidents to have taken place at the junction.
“It needs attention, speed kills.”
Supporting the motion, Cllr Carmel Brady (Fine Gael) explained a woman was bringing her two children to school when the car was “upended”.
“Thank God nobody was killed,” she said.
The meeting heard the road leads to a football pitch, school and two churches, therefore more safety measures are urgently needed,
“No child could walk there or cross the road,” continued Cllr Brady.
Cllr Aiden Fitzpatrick requested a designated turning lane be created on the road.
In response to the motion, Senior Executive Engineer Alan Lyons said the same concern had been raised at a meeting previously.
The council looked into the matter, assessing the traffic flow and assessed past collisions from 1990 to 2022.
He stated there were no reported collisions during this period.
Mr Lyons also outlined there also was not sufficient traffic flow for the road to qualify for a right hand turn lane.
A second option would be to introduce road islands in order to stop people overtaking on the stretch, however Mr Lyons outlined there are limited overtaking options on the rest of the road.
He believes if islands are introduced, it will force motorists to overtake on unsafe areas of road.
Cllr Fitzpatrick was unhappy with the response, stating “local knowledge” would confirm the area of road is dangerous.
“I don’t like your answer,” he says, “as a local person, I know of several near misses.
“I do accept what you’re saying but I think your rubber bands on the road are not telling the truth,” he says making reference to the traffic assessment procedure which was put in place.
He advised Mr Lyons to “go and do a test run” of that particular right hand turn.
Aontú Councillor Sarah O’Reily supported the motion, requesting council members advise anyone who experiences a incident at that location to report it to the council.