Warning 'someone will be killed' at Knappagh Cross

Residents in Stradone are terrified that “someone will be killed” at Knappagh Cross, a meeting of the Bailieborough-Cootehill Municipal District recently.

Cllr Aiden Fitzpatrick told members that the matter was brought to his attention while he was out canvassing in the area.

He says there is a broken white line on the road heading for Shercock at a junction where vehicles are coming from a minor road onto the main route.

“I know someone who just last week was travelling on the route; they passed out a tractor and another motorist came onto the road and turned left straight up to meet them,” he detailed, before adding that motorists coming onto the road are looking right but not looking left because they are not expecting cars to be coming towards them on the wrong side of the road and they subsequently “just pull out from the junction”.

“I know that residents in the area have been on to Cavan County Council about the matter but is there anything that we can do to sort out this problem? It doesn’t make sense that motorists can pass each other out at a junction.”

Kenneth Glennon, Cavan County Council, told the meeting that the local authority has reviewed signage on the road and the ‘STOP’ sign at the junction due to the route being stressed last year. “I feel that, if people adhered to the rules of the road at that junction, this wouldn’t be happening,” he continued.

“The broken white line indicates that vehicles can pass out. We will take a look at it and see if there is anything that can be done. On that particular road there are very few overtaking opportunities and motorists need those opportunities irrespective of whether there is a junction there or not. It really is up to an individual who is coming off a minor road onto a main route to adhere to the rules of the road,” articulated Mr Glennon.

“Well people in the area appear to be very passionate about the situation,” responded Cllr Fitzpatrick. “I have passed out several lorries there myself and your heart would be in your mouth because you end up with just enough time and no more, and you need to keep your foot down as well.

“Eventually someone is going to pull out onto the road, a vehicle will be passing out and will be on the wrong side of the road and everything will happen at the same time. I just think that vehicles should not be allowed to pass out where motorists are coming out onto the road.”