People ‘take lives in their hands’ crossing very busy road in Tipperary

Pedestrians are “taking their lives in their hands” when crossing the bypass road in Clonmel at certain times of the day and an overpass should be provided between the Cashel Road and Fethard Road Roundabouts, it has been claimed.

Cllr Michael Murphy, who made that statement, has said that it was somewhat extraordinary that when you travelled the entire length of the Frank Drohan Road, from the Cahir Road Roundabout to the Moangarriff Roundabout, there wasn’t a single flashing light sign for pedestrians and cyclists to cross the road.

He told a meeting of Clonmel Borough District that there were an estimated 20,000 vehicle movements each day on that road, and that approximately 30 percent of the town’s population lived on the northern side of the bypass, with planning permission granted for further development.

The new Regional Sports Hub is also due to open shortly in that area.

He accepted that it is a national road and it was about finding a happy medium between pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.

Cllr Murphy suggested that a full review of the various pedestrian crossings on the road should be undertaken. The existing crossings are dangerous and require significant upgrading, he said.

Many residents living in the area had genuine fears about crossing the road, and were particularly concerned about the safety of young children.

District Mayor Pat English said they had previously looked for a pedestrian overpass and they should try again, even though they had been told it was a matter of funding. Population growth was massive on the northern side of the town and was still growing.

The Mayor said it was a safety issue that was standing out like a sore thumb and it needed to be dealt with. He said the council should make an application for funding under the Active Travel Scheme.

Cllr Siobhán Ambrose thought they might look at it in tandem with the major upgrade planned for the N24, the route for which has yet to be announced.

James Murray, Senior Engineer with Tipperary County Council, agreed that a full review of that road from one roundabout to the other is warranted.

A pedestrian overpass would require significant funding and would require the support of the Active Travel Scheme. Towns such as Clonmel had developed beyond ring roads, he added.

In his report to the meeting, District Engineer Roger Noonan said he would liaise with the county council’s roads capital office and assess what options were available.

The pedestrian crossings on the Frank Drohan Road are known as uncontrolled crossings and are common on national routes such as the N24, where priority is given to traffic.

This ensured, as far as possible, the smooth flow of vehicles on a road with heavy traffic, he stated.