‘Absolutely lethal’ junction in Roscrea not eligible for road safety measure funding
A junction in Roscrea has been dubbed one of the most dangerous crossroads in North Tipperary.
A local councillor has pleaded for increased traffic safety measures at Roscrea’s Rosemary Square.
The double staggered junction in Roscrea town centre is the meeting point of six roads, a convergence which regularly creates a dangerous pattern of stop-and-start traffic.
Pedestrians crossing the junction have been ‘taking their lives in their hands’ said Independent councillor Shane Lee.
At the October meeting of the Municipal District of Thurles on Monday, October 19, Cllr Shane Lee described the junction as ‘absolutely lethal’ to pedestrians.
He asked whether temporary traffic safety measures could be put in place to ensure that those attempting to access local facilities be able to do so safely.
At the meeting, Cllr Lee said, “I am calling for these urgent measures to help keep pedestrians safe.”
Senior District Engineer, Thomas Duffy, said that engineers and designers from the local authority visited Roscrea last Friday to review whether Rosemary Cross could feasibly obtain funding from the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. They decided that the junction lacked eligibility for the scheme.
“A temporary fix won’t do it. It needs a bigger project, but at the moment there is no money available,” said Mr. Duffy.
A one-way traffic system for the junction was considered but abandoned as a full review and insight from a consultant was needed to ‘look at all avenues’.
“It needs to be looked at as a whole and there are five or six legs coming into it and it needs a complete review of the entire design for that area.”
Mr. Duffy and his colleagues acknowledged that the junction is a priority and that ‘it needs to be done’.