House frontage drawback for would-be 'M18'
MOTORISTS enjoying the new motorway status of the N18 from the end of August will have to slow down at the turn-off to Shannon Airport to avoid picking up a speeding ticket.
Minister Noel Dempsey recently signed an order under the Roads Act of 2007 to designate a number of national primary routes as motorways from August 28.
This will mean the speed limit increases from 100kph to 120kph on the 8.5km Limerick Southern Ring Road (Phase One) from Annacotty to Rosbrien; and the 5km section of the main road to Cork (N20) as far as Attyflin/Patrickswell.
The N18 to Shannon, Ennis and Galway is more problematic for the NRA. Currently a special speed limit of 50kph is in force at Cratloe to facilitate construction work associated with the €660 million Limerick Tunnel/Southern Ring Road Phase II.
Sean O'Neill, NRA, said the authority hoped to eventually designate this road as a motorway but said public consultation would have to take place.
One of the chief problems is the presence of up to 20 houses fronting on to N18 at Setright's, Cratloe, between Bunratty and the city, travelling in that direction. Regulations demand that motorways cannot have direct access into homes. Setright's is regarded as an accident blackspot and has been the site of a number of fatalities, one as recently as November 2007 when an elderly pedestrian was killed attempting to cross the road.
From the end of August, the stretch of the N18 from the turn-off to Shannon Airport at Ballycasey will be given motorway designation as far as where the Ennis bypass ends at Crusheen. When the N18 to Galway is complete, it is intended this section will also be designated as motorway.
Motorists travelling from Shannon to Limerick will be required to slow down to 100kph at Ballycasey unless they wish to risk penalty points and speeding fines.
Councillors in Clare, meanwhile, have written to the NRA expressing concerns over the motorway designation. Fine Gael's Cllr Johnny Flynn, a civil engineer and former chief fire officer, and Cllr Brian Meaney, Greens, are seeking a safety audit on the proposals as they fear slip roads from the N18 are not long enough to handle the increased speeds of motorists turning off the motorway. Cllr Flynn has particular concerns about heavy goods and long vehicles.
Minister for Transport Noel has Dempsey said: "By declaring these sections of road to be motorways, it will create uniformity of speed limits across major sections of the national network and protect this major public investment from inappropriate development. The primary function of a national motorway network is to allow people, goods and services to travel safely and efficiently throughout the country."
Minister Dempsey's move means that the roads in question will be off limits from August 28 for learner drivers, vehicles with engines under 50cc, vehicles not capable of a speed of 50 kph, pedestrians and cyclists.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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