Concerns about major accident on R201

Residents are concerned there will be a "major accident" on the R201, said Cllr Des Guckian at the latest Carrick-on-Shannon municipal district meeting adding that there have been "near misses" according to locals. 

In a motion, Cllr Des Guckian asked the Leitrim County Council engineers "in the interest of road safety for all, to bring in a variety of new measures to curb the speed of traffic on the R201 at Mohill, especially coming from the Carrick side, in advance of its junction with Cornee Lane L34481."

Cllr Guckian said: "I'm asking that all sorts of extra signage, rumble strips, lights, etc. be employed to impress upon all drivers on this road, especially coming from Carrick, that there is a blind exit ahead from Cornee Lane and that they must slow down."

He continued that locals report that vehicles are travelling up to 80km/h, 30km/h faster than the 50km/h speed limit at the location adding that he felt "speed traps will be needed unless the above measures are taken."  He added that the reply he got "is completely inadequate as far as I'm concerned."

The official response said that the local authority have appropriate speed limits located along the R201 prior to this junction and have recently erected a driver feedback sign also. The issue is now an enforcement issue and the elected member should bring this up at the next JPC meeting.

Cllr Thomas Mulligan agreed with the motion saying "it is a major, major problem right throughout the summer" with Cllr Paddy Farrell adding that he felt "we all need to play our role, after the last two weekends with so many people killed on our roads."

Cllr Sean McGowan said that there are a "lot of corners and twists and turns on the road and the traffic does speed coming into the town and something needs to be done."

District Engineer, Darragh O'Boyle agreed with Cllr Guckian's motion and said rumble strips can be introduced at the location and he felt "speed traps are necessary there so that is something that can be brought up at the JPC."

He said the landowners will be contacted in order to ensure the hedges are cut and improve the "sight distance."