Offaly locals stage stand-off protest after 'disastrous' junction works

Locals gathered in Rhode on a wet and windy Tuesday evening last night to protest the "disastrous" works carried out by Offaly County Council which has left it almost impossible for buses and trucks to turn at the junction in the village.

The frustrations stem from work commenced in recent weeks to widen the footpaths at the crossroads in the village. This has resulted in a narrowing of the junction for traffic with trucks and buses forced to reverse and inch their way around very close to new footpaths and bollards.

The work is due to continue this week with Offaly County Council stressing the layout is not completed and that the junction will become a "raised table junction" with no kerbs.

One resident last night posted a picture of locals standing in the centre of the junction in protest.

Vinny Grennan said: "A stand-off for nearly three hours took place this evening [Tuesday] in Rhode Co. Offaly with concerned locals at the new footpaths and roadworks. Hopefully the county engineers will come meet and hear the locals concerns for our community."

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One of the organisers of the protest, Jenny Whelan, added that the protest was taking place for people to "stand together to keep our families safe from this disastrous junction layout.

"Our families are in danger daily, our elderly have had their parking taken away, our sick have no parking near their local doctor, our children are at risk on these ridiculous footpaths, our drivers are trying to navigate dangerous and totally unacceptable and impossible corners.

"On top of all this our roads and access are being completely closed without warning. Enough is enough."

In response to queries about the works from the Offaly Express, a spokesperson for Offaly County Council said that the construction work is ongoing but once completed the crossroads in Rhode will be a raised table junction, i.e. no kerbs.

"The steep ramps currently in place are only a temporary measure. All our Active Travel Works are undertaken in line with appropriate industry guidelines," the spokesperson said. 

They added that the works will provide a safer environment for pedestrians and vulnerable road users within Rhode village.

"The completed works will also slow vehicles down with the village and traffic passing through Rhode village, the spokesperson outlined.

"The improvements will also remove unregulated unsafe parking entirely from the crossroads and near pedestrian crossings to improve sight lines."

The spokesperson said the HGVs will have to wait until junctions are clear to continue, crossing the centreline is allowed but only when the path is clear.

The work is actually continuing this week with the Council warning of a another temporary road closure in the village on Tuesday and Wednesday "to allow for the installation of road surface across the junction."

However, concerns remain locally about the works undertaken in the village.

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One person commented on social media: "It’s an accident waiting to happen and needs an urgent review. The workers told the engineer that the road wouldn’t be wide enough and they were told to carry on! Absolutely ridiculous! It needs sorting now."