Plans for major road safety scheme lodged by Roscommon County Council

Roscommon County Council has lodged plans for a road safety improvement scheme in Ballyleague.

The Part 8 project is aimed at addressing safety issues with the current footpath layout at the Holy Rosary Church and community centre through to Ballyleague National School on the N63.

There are currently no safe crossing facilities on this stretch of the N63 for pedestrian access to the various local amenities or for school goers. Existing footpath conditions at the school are potentially forcing pedestrians onto the carriage way due to parked cars.

The council’s proposed works will introduce various engineering measures on N63 from the community centre to the school. Safe connectivity will be facilitated by providing a designated parking/set-down area at the community centre and facilitating a safe walking route from there to the school.

A road safety inspection report by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) found that pedestrians may be forced to walk on the carriageway due to a lack of pedestrian facilities. The report recommended the continuity of the facilities be provided in order provide a safer environment for vulnerable road users.

The report also found that average daily traffic on the N63 is in the order of 6,760 vehicles with approximately 5% of those HGVs.

The council’s road safety project involves footpath and pavement improvement works, the installation of a pedestrian zebra crossing, safe routes to school measures, landscaping, and ancillary works including the provision of traffic signs, road markings, kerbs, street lighting and utility diversions.

Plans of the proposed development can be inspected at the council offices in Roscommon Town. The plans can also be viewed online on the local authority’s public consultation portal.

A submission or observation in relation to the proposed development should be made before July 18th, via the portal or alternatively by email - roads@roscommoncoco.ie – or in writing to the council, marked “Ballyleague Road Safety Improvement Scheme” and submitted to the Roads and Transportation Department.