‘High collision’ designation for village paves way for long-awaited safety funding
Calls have been made repeatedly for specific safety measures for the village.
Cloonfad’s official designation as a 'high collision' location following several years of campaigning has been described as a “breakthrough” in efforts to secure funding for long-awaited safety measures in the village.
Rocommon County Council has confirmed to the Roscommon Herald that the N83 through Cloonfad village has been identified by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) as a ‘High Collision Location’ (HCL). TII can now target safety interventions in the village following the designation.
Local councillors have repeatedly raised concerns about the high incidence of collisions in the West Roscommon village, which they believe is an accident blackspot.
Fianna Fáil councillor Paschal Fitzmaurice and other Roscommon Municipal District councillors had previously been told that Cloonfad was not a “location of interest” for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).
However, at a meeting of the MD early last year, councillors sent correspondence to the TII and the gardaí seeking accident data for Cloonfad to establish if the village could become “a location of interest”.
News that the village has now been formally placed on a designated list by TII has been welcomed by Cllr Fitzmaurice.
"This is a breakthrough because the fact that it’s a national route, we were always relying on TII to progress it. It's very positive news for the people of Cloonfad because there have been numerous accidents in the village,” he said.
A council spokesperson told the Herald that the HCL designation provides an opportunity for the local authority to review options for safety improvement works at the village junction.
He explained that a preferred option could then be submitted to TII as part of a Feasibility and Options Report, along with a funding application for the works, subject to the necessary statutory approvals.
“If approved by TII, the safety section will normally provide funding for works in the following year’s allocations.
“Roscommon County Council road design aims to have an F&O report with TII for review before the end of 2026. All going well, funding would then be confirmed in the 2027 safety works allocations,” concluded the spokesperson.
