Call for review of busy Leitrim junction following near misses

Leitrim County Council is to ask Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to review the road design at the Masonite/Mohill junction off the N4 following safety concerns.

At November’s meeting of the Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District, Cllr Maeve Reynolds raised concerns about this section of the N4, where vehicles turning off the road have reportedly been failing to yield.

Drivers turning off the N4 into Mohill from the Dublin direction have the right of way; however, vehicles coming from the Sligo direction are required to yield to oncoming traffic. Several near misses have been reported where drivers from the Sligo side failed to do so.

Cllr Reynolds noted that a couple of these near misses had been reported to her and added that there used to be better signage at the junction. 

READ NEXT: Fresh accessibility audits planned across Leitrim towns next year

She asked that the issue be referred to TII to determine what measures could be taken to prevent accidents.

Cllr Reynolds also recalled that she had proposed a motion in March asking for debris to be cleared from this road, and was informed that funding was being pursued to carry out the works, though they have not yet taken place. “It’s no simple task and it’s a traffic management issue, but it would be good to see it cleared; there’s debris building up again,” said Cllr Reynolds, adding that some signs have been damaged by recent storms.

Her motion was seconded by Cllr Farrell, Cllr McGowan, and Cllr Guckian-Rabbitte.

A response from the Roads Department confirmed that TII will be contacted and asked to review the existing design, and that the Council will follow up on any design changes arising from this review.

READ NEXT: Charity praises Leitrim's 'incredible' donations as Christmas shoebox appeal continues

“However, this junction has recently been reviewed and upgraded to accommodate cycling infrastructure,” the response concluded.