Councillors pass motion to ask for safety measures at ‘lethal’ junction

A motion calling on the council to ask Transport Infrastructure Ireland to help update safety measures at a popular junction in Tipperary has been passed at the Tipperary/Cahir/Cashel Municipal District meeting, which took place today (Monday September 22).

The motion was submitted by Independent Cllr Andy Moloney who asked "the Council to collaborate with Transport Infrastructure Ireland(TII) to develop a plan to make the junction for Kilmoyler on the N24, safer for pedestrians and all road users – particularly for cars turning off the N24."

The junction in question is at the well-known landmark Lady Gregory pub, which is located between Cahir and Bansha.

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This junction has been the site of a growing number of collisions in recent years, with the most recent being on August 9 of this year. 

In the meeting held in Tipperary Town, Cllr Moloney explained that the location is also a stop on the school transport route.

“I understand that Tipperary County Council have been in contact with the regional road safety engineer, and we’ve been advised that new road signage and road material will be installed under the new TII contract next year, to raise drivers awareness. While I appreciate a reply, I don’t appreciate the timelines being offered here,” began Cllr Moloney.

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“Next year is not an acceptable answer. They’re saying that the new N24 Cahir to Limerick Junction scheme will take a lot of traffic off this road but if we got the money tomorrow morning, it could be eight years until we see that road open,” warned Cllr Moloney.

Cllr Moloney urged the meeting that they needed to go back to TII about this issue because next year is too long to wait, given that the solution to the problem is simple, he said.

“A simple effort that would sort out a lot of problems is a single double straight line, as there’s a broken line coming up to the junction and people try to overtake there. I’ve asked at a meeting before to put some drop down bollards at the side of the road, because we have a footpath where kids wait for their school bus and it’s lethal there as there’s nothing stopping cars from shooting up on that footpath,” said Cllr Moloney.

“I don’t accept that we’ll have to wait until next year, just for a bit of white line and a yellow box sign on the other side,” he finished.

The motion was seconded by Independent Cllr Máirín McGrath who said “I agree, it’s important we go back to TII. These are simple changes that can be done there, they won’t require a year’s worth of thinking etc. They don’t require a lot of money either and it is dangerous. It’s a busy, busy junction and there’s a lot of traffic in and out of there,” she said.

Independent Cllr Liam Browne also supported the motion. “The N24, it’s the most dangerous road in the country. Why are we not doing something about it? Because people will be killed. We the council can do this motion, let TII do the big road. Eight months or eight years? That could be done in less than eight days,” said Cllr Browne.

Independent and Cllr John O’Heney supported the motion and expressed that he had a close call at that junction in recent months, calling it ‘lethal’.

Cathaoirleach and Fianna Fail Cllr Roger Kennedy also seconded the motion saying that “TII are responsible for the lining of the road, we can’t do the works until TII say what needs to be done and where,” explained Cllr Kennedy.

The council's road division will now write to Transport Infrastructure Ireland in the hope that they will update these safety measures at the junction at Kilmoyler on the N24.