Bypass focus: Fears that new speed limit on old N5 will ‘hamstring business’

Concerns have been raised that a new 60km/h speed limit on a section of the old N5 could “hamstring business” following the opening of the new Frenchpark bypass.

Fianna Fáil councillor Sean Moylan raised concerns at a recent council meeting about the impact of the speed limit reduction from 100kmph to 60kmph on the bypassed part of the old N5.

“Currently, the road from Frenchpark out to Sheepwalk has been reduced to an official 60km/hour and a speed van sits on that on numerous occasions.

“This has been a 100kmph road with 6,000 vehicles a day, now it’s a 60kmph road with less than 600 vehicles a day. It’s a lot quieter and safer than it ever was before and now it’s been reclassified to sixty.

“The infrastructure is there for a 100kmph road and this going to absolutely hamstring businesses,” he said, pointing out that a lot of local people working in agriculture are also moving around that area.

With the support of fellow members, Cllr Moylan said he would be seeking a full derogation from Scramogue all the way to Tibohine and that “the road is maintained between 80 and 100kmph” - “the same that is done in Galway, the same that is done in Mayo”.

He told the meeting that the old N6 from Loughrea into Galway was a 100kmph road and the old N5 into Castlebar was an 80 kmph road.

The councillor said that a derogation for the old N5 near Cooney’s hardware and Tibohine school had been made to retain it as an 80kmph road.

“There was a road in Tibohine and one in South Roscommon that got a derogation. I feel very strongly about this…the last thing we want is a whole load of disgruntled people who put up with this for years and now have to stay at 60kmph,” he said.

He believed that the current situation could “drive non-compliance and danger in its own way”.

Director of Services Mark Keaveney explained that there was a whole legal process around this issue, and it wasn’t just “a question of changing signs”.

He said the issue of speed limits was a matter of national policy and national legislation.

“That’s why I’m bringing it up now,” replied Cllr Moylan. “The new road will be fully open in 18 months, and we can be working on this now.”

Independent councillors Tom Crosby and Valerie Byrne supported his call while Cathaoirleach, Cllr Liam Callaghan, said he may refer the issue to Boyle Municipal District for further discussion.