New speed limits on way for number of roads in Offaly

THE stretch of the Tullamore to Kilbeggan road at Durrow, which has been declared a death trap by concerned locals, will have its speed limit lowered from 100kph to 80kph.

The move has been reluctantly accepted by councillors who had sought a reduction to 60kph where the N52 meets the Durrow High Road.

The recommendation for the introduction of a 60kph zone either side of the junction was rejected by the national authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

Angry councillors on Monday condemned what was described by Cllr Neil Feighery as a TII “veto” over the views of public representatives on the ground.

A meeting of Offaly County Council saw the elected members adopt a new traffic speeding regime for the county, the first change in the rules since 2017.

Director of services Tom Shanahan told the councillors that statutory guidelines set by the Department of Transport had to be complied with in any review of the speed limit bye-laws.

The decisions on new limits follow a period of public consultation and contact with An Garda Siochana.

While the gardai had no comment on proposed changes, submissions were received from interested parties in the Tullamore Municipal District.

Along with the refusal of the TII to sanction the change in Durrow, lower limits at Blueball and Woodlands, Birr were also turned down.

However the TII did approve a reduction from 80kph to 60kph on one side of Ferbane and a new 80kph zone north of the town for one kilometre.

The entire length of the road from Riverstown to Birr is being reduced to a 60kph speed limit.

Mr Shanahan said proposals for new limits in Ballydaly, Killina and Killoughy Cross would not be implemented because the guidelines viewed the roads as being in rural areas.

“We have proposals for Killoughy Cross to improve safety there outside of the speed limit review,” said Mr Shanahan.

No changes are being made to limits in Killurin and Mucklagh, despite submissions seeking them, but the limit between Tubber and Moate will be 80kph.

Cllr Tony McCormack, Fianna Fail, said a submission had been made by a Cappincur resident which reflected concerns about the “huge problem” there, especially around the oratory, and HGVs, buses and cars were increasingly using the road to avoid the recommended main road through the Meelaghans.

“The speed of the traffic coming in that road is horrendous,” said Cllr McCormack.

Mr Shanahan told him the road through Cappincur was deemed rural so was excluded from consideration of a speed limit review.

Cllr Neil Feighery, Fine Gael, said while he appreciated the work which will be done at Killoughy Cross he and others were disappointed with the “veto of the TII”.

In Durrow, he said, traffic sometimes had to wait six minutes to exit onto the main road and he recalled the public concern and a meeting late last year there.

“I've a feeling the 80k limit mightn't just cut the mustard here,” said Cllr Feighery. “TII seem to be very reluctant to agree to any changes that come to us public representatives, the people that are on the ground.”

The councillor was also disappointed that a “slight extension” for the 60kph zone at Blueball had not been approved and repeated a call for the TII to meet the council.

Cllr Feighery also questioned the national review of speed limits which is currently being considered by the Oireachtas which he said will reduce limits “dramatically” across the country and bring many roads down from 80kph to 60kph.

Cllr John Carroll, Independent, said he was happy to see the limit on the Birr-Riverstown road reduced but said he saw no need for the 30kph signs in very small housing estates, like Cypress Grove with three houses.

Putting up signs for 50 metres is a “waste of resources” said Cllr Carroll who added that he had never heard of prosecutions for speeding in estates but “it's not strangers doing it”.

Cllr Sean O'Brien, Independent, agreed with Cllr Feighery on national speed limit legislation and said it would “supersede” what the councillors were doing.

Under these laws the speed on the N52 at Durrow will be reduced to 80kph anyway. “It's somewhat taking away our local powers, it's just another erosion,” said Cllr O'Brien.

Another Independent member, Cllr John Leahy said speeding was always a concern but it's up to people to take personal responsibility.

“When we want it enforced we don't really want it enforced,” said Cllr Leahy, adding that work done under the Town and Village Renewal Schemes and Active Travel had “narrowed” some villages TVR and Active Travel schemes have narrowed the villages and reduced speeding.

Cllr Declan Harvey, Fianna Fail, said the wait for some drivers coming out of Durrow could be 10 minutes and he echoed the complaints about the TII.

“They didn't listen to us when we asked for 60,” Cllr Harvey remarked, adding that speeding was also taking place on straight roads in the town of Tullamore like those at Park Avenue and Puttaghaun. He called for speed ramps to be installed.

READ:

https://www.offalyexpress.ie/news/home/1364360/packed-public-meeting-hears-calls-for-replacement-of-offaly-s-death-trap-road.html

Barry Lennon, senior engineer for roads, told the meeting that while the Durrow project was a priority, a planning application will be required and it was hoped to progress that “by the end of the year”.

Cllr Liam Quinn, Fine Gael, suggested that normal permanent speed limit signs at primary schools would be more effective than temporary ones and also singled out Ballyfore Cross as a blackspot, suggesting the road be narrowed as had been done in Mountlucas. Cllr Noel Cribbin agreed, saying there could sometimes be up to 40 kids at Ballyfore Cross.

Mr Shanahan told the councillors that the Oireachtas had not yet enacted the 80kph speed limits and added that the council was required to put up signs in all places with a 30kph limit.

Referring to ramps, he indicated the preference for “raised tables” such as those in the centre of Tullamore.

There will be road markings and improved signage at Killoughy Cross, he said, adding that some work had been done in Ballyfore and he would wait to see how it bedded in.

Cllr John Clendennen, Fine Gael, sought statistics on speed van locations, regularity and detection rates.

Cllr Clendennen said of speeding: “It's a social problem and we're trying to find an engineering solution.”