TII criticised over stalled Castlerea road safety project

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has been criticised over a stalled road safety project in Castlerea.

At a meeting of the Roscommon Municipal District, MD Cathaoirleach Paschal Fitzmaurice said that the proposed safety scheme for the town would have seen a set of traffic lights at the Hell’s Kitchen junction, as well as a number of pedestrian crossing points.

He claimed that there were a number of very “anti-business” parts of the scheme, particularly the loss of all of Patrick’s Street’s parking spaces and a significant number of spaces from Main Street.

“We were told that we had to accept the whole scheme in its entirety,” he said, adding that the scheme was accepted, but not the loss of parking.

“This is a safety scheme, and 90% of it could have gone ahead without the loss of parking. You are taking your life in your hands trying to cross the road in Castlerea, in parts of it.”

He said that the TII had been corresponded with about how the scheme could be progressed, but “not much of a response” was received.

He asked that the MD write to TII seeking a meeting about the scheme.

“We certainly want to see some of the scheme progressed. The traffic lights at Hell’s Kitchen could be progressed, as could a number of the pedestrian crossing points.”

Cllr Nigel Dineen seconded the proposal, agreeing that the pedestrian crossings and traffic lights could go ahead.

“I don’t think TII should be bullying us. They have to work with us,” the Independent Ireland councillor said. “There has to be a compromise.”

*Published under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.