Council U-turn over 'confusing' road markings at roundabout on busy Limerick road
ROAD markings at the new Beary’s Cross roundabout on the N24 have been erased after concerns were highlighted by a local councillor.
At the March meeting of the Cappamore-Kilmallock Municipal District, Cllr Martin Ryan queried the signage for motorists coming from the Boher side of the recently-installed roundabout.
Cllr Ryan said when motorists approached the roundabout there was an arrow, painted on the left lane, to indicate that that lane was only to be used for the left turn to Caherconlish.
Normally, he added, the left lane on a roundabout is used for turning left and for going straight through a roundabout.
Cllr Ryan said a person who is travelling in the left lane and who wants to go straight for Limerick is in the “wrong lane”.
Cllr Ryan, who knows a thing or two about roads and transport as he runs Martin Ryan & Sons with his brothers Declan and Brendan, added: “Motorists are not informed early enough.”
Cllr Ryan said he feared the markings could cause an accident if somebody in the left lane heading for Limerick city encroaches on those in the right or “correct” lane.
An arrow painted on the right lane indicated that it was the ‘correct’ lane to be in to continue towards the city.
At the March meeting, Trevor McKechnie, senior executive engineer with Limerick City and County Council, said he would make enquires with the Road Design Office.
A subsequent story regarding the roundabout was published in the Limerick Leader and online.
The story was widely read with many commenting on the confusion they had experienced because of the road markings.
Mr McKechnie had an update for councillors at the April meeting.
“I’ve spoken to the road design office. A number of safety audits were done and they agree the road markings should be taken off. It will operate as a normal roundabout,” he said, adding that the council was waiting for a contractor to remove the road markings.
That work has since been completed (see below).
Cllr Martin Ryan, who raised the issue in the first place, welcomed the move.
“I’m delighted to see the quick action taken after they listened to everyone’s opinion. In fairness, they took people’s concerns on board and went with it straight away. The article got a lot of reaction. I got a lot of calls and texts from people who agreed with the sentiment that you enter a roundabout thinking of the basic standard rules of the road,” said Cllr Ryan.
People also reported a number of near misses as two vehicles got “pinched” as they both headed towards the city.
Another fear, in a worst case scenario, was that a car could come into collision with or even go under a lorry.
“People were very concerned that there were going to be accidents. People had seen near misses happening and their concern was the near misses would turn into accidents,” said Cllr Ryan, who added that people also raised with him a similar situation on the roundabout on the N69 coming from the Clarina side and heading for the Dock Road.
Continuing the transport theme, Cathaoirleach of the Cappamore-Kilmallock Municipal District, John Egan welcomed the National Transport Authority (NTA) funding for bus shelters in Bruff, Caherconlish, Hospital, Kilfinane, Kilmallock and O’Rourke’s Cross.
However, he expressed his disappointment that Murroe, Cappamore and Doon were not included. “Hopefully next year,” he said.
Mr McKechnie said they are working on further locations for bus shelters with the Active Travel Investment Programme which is funded by the NTA.
“We are hoping more will come. They haven’t been forgotten about,” he said