TII criticised for 'ridiculous' response on 'extremely dangerous' Roscommon junctions

A number of junctions in the Kiltoom area are “extremely dangerous”, a recent meeting of the Athlone Municipal District was told.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), the state agency with responsibility for road and public transport infrastructure, was again accused of being out of touch with the condition of roads in the county.

At the July meeting of the MD, Cllr Laurence Fallon called on the council’s roads division to work with the TII to restore the continuous white line between the Purts junction and Kiltoom Cemetery and also both sides of the Barrybeg junction.

This was the situation before the resurfacing of the N61 and the changed road markings at both junctions are creating a very dangerous situation and needs urgent attention, the independent councillor said.

In response to this request, the TII said that following a review, the road markings were in accordance with the current standards, and no changes were proposed at the locations.

Cllr Fallon said that the response had made him very angry and disappointed.

“Obviously this was a desktop exercise that was done by TII. They didn’t look at the situation at the two junctions, if they had I am sure they wouldn’t have come up with this position,” he said. “This is kind of typical of what TII does.” He asked what were the current standards, “are they the standards in their laptop or the reality on the ground?”.

“There is no doubt about it that particularly the Purts junction is extremely dangerous. The idea that it is safe to current standards is totally ridiculous.” He called on the TII to go out to the junctions during the busy periods in the morning and evening, and then review them.

“These are dangerous junctions, it’s a matter of life and death,” Cllr Fallon said.

He said that the matter had been raised with him and other councillors during the local elections.

“People are frustrated coming through Cornaseer. They come over the top of the hill, they see a broken line and they fly up. And it is only a matter of time before we see accidents in those two positions.” He proposed that a representative from TII be invited to meet with councillors at those junctions.

“Because unless someone comes out and has a look at this, they’ll have no understanding of the danger that is there,” he said. He added that unless these junctions were addressed, a major accident would happen.

Cllr Domnick Connolly said he supported Cllr Fallon’s proposal in the strongest way possible.

“From the turn to St Brigid’s GAA pitch to the turn for Barrymore, there are an awful lot of dangerous junctions along that stretch of road,” he said.

“In the morning and evenings, it’s almost impossible to get in or out of those roads.” Cllr Emer Kelly also voiced her support.

She also criticised the TII’s engagement with the council.

“There are accidents on that road so frequently,” she said.

Cllr John Naughten said TII had “point-blank” refused to address these long standing and obvious issues.

“If someone from TII came out and looked at the situation on the ground, they’d see very quickly that the line marking there is not appropriate and needs to be amended.”

Municipal District Cathaoirleach John Keogh supported the proposal, but highlighted that it had previously taken “years and years” for a meeting to take place with TII on the N61.

“They wouldn’t meet and we all had to go marching up to Parkgate Street (Dublin) on no less than two occasions,” he said.

Cllr Fallon asked that the TII representative, who assessed the road markings as appropriate, justify that response.