'The oddest roundabout’ - Motorists ‘launching’ vehicles over top of new Limerick road feature

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THE ODDEST roundabout I’ve come across” is how one frustrated motorist has described a new road feature on the outskirts of Limerick city which sees vehicles frequently drive over the top of it instead of around it.

Locals and motorists argue the roundabout's layout is confusing, posing a safety hazard and are demanding immediate action to fix it.

The new three-arm roundabout on the Old Cork Road / Kilmallock Road just a mile outside the city has been open to use by motorists over the past month. 

“They're just launching the cars over the top of it,” said one resident who contacted Limerick Live to voice his concern over the design of the road traffic measure.

The local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said drivers are “abusing” the roundabout. “There's no way of preventing a driver from driving over the top of it at high speed, especially on a straight road,” he continued.

When Limerick Live visited the site, we witnessed a number of vehicles - cars, trucks and buses - driving straight over the raised circle area and making no attempt to go around the designated roadway circling the large circle.

One of the cars which did follow the roadway hit the kerbing on the outside.  

It is understood that the new roundabout was completed three weeks ago and construction works took place over a six or seven-month period prior to this.

The resident said that the other residents are also “really frustrated” with the current situation. “You've got lots and lots of new families and new babies, and new kids that are going to Donoughmore school and that are exiting from Ros Mor housing estate across the gala, and they're using that roundabout but then you have people that are on the main road already who are cutting them off the roundabout by just driving straight over the top of the roundabout.”

He is frustrated that a safety audit will be conducted in the next month stating that residents “don't have a month to wait” because an accident may occur on the roundabout in the time being. 

“Someone is going to get really badly hurt on this roundabout and then it's going to be too late and then it's going to make the headlines.”

He highlighted that trucks are getting stuck at the end of the road. “It just goes to show how many heavy goods vehicles travel along that road every day.”

He added that cars are “flying” over the roundabout. 

“I just want something to be done so it's safe for people to drive to and from work and to and from dropping kids to school. People don't respect the speed limit and don't respect the fact that there's a roundabout there... They're just launching the cars over the top of it.”

The concerned local resident is keen for a solution to solve the problem and suggested installing something onto the roundabout to stop motorists driving over it. “Something has to sit in the middle of it to prevent a car from driving over the top of it…”

He also highlighted that there is no protective barrier in place from the roundabout into some of the housing in Ros Mor housing estate.

Another motorist who travels the Old Cork Road on a regular basis said at the beginning there were efforts on the part of drivers to stay on the designated roadway but now “loads of vehicles are just driving straight through as if there was no roundabout there at all”.

“The circle is only slightly raised so there is no deterrent not to go straight through really. It’s the oddest roundabout I’ve come across,” he added.

Limerick City East Cllr Catherine Slattery said she understands that some people have concerns that the roundabout is quite large but she has “been assured by Active Travel that engineers designed the roundabout specifically for a bus to turn.”

“The roundabout is large and when the bus is turning, the bus does mount the roundabout but that is the way the roundabout is designed so the bus can mount the edge of the roundabout,” she added.

Cllr Slattery advocated for a bus service on the Old Cork Road for many years and said she continues to advocate for the area.

The Fianna Fáil councillor explained: “Unfortunately, the council do not own the land in front of Ros Mor so the engineers designed the roundabout with that in mind. I have driven the area and used the roundabout and you do have to slow down when turning but I see that as a positive for the area.”

Cllr Slattery added that the roundabout is “well signposted” to indicate that there is a roundabout in place and drivers need to “be vigilant” and remember that there is a new traffic system in the area. “I feel that having a bus service will benefit the area and Limerick Council and Bus Éireann have tested this roundabout and are happy to proceed with a full bus service that started on August 18”.

She concluded that she was “delighted with the result” of the Ros Mor/Kilmallock Road Active Travel Scheme. “I am delighted to say that a brand new bus shelter has now been installed outside Ros Mor Housing Estate and one outside Kilmallock College of Further Education.”

Fellow Limerick City East Cllr Sarah Kiely said that over the last few weeks she has had “numerous calls, texts, and emails regarding the roundabout at Ros Mor”. 

“I have spoken to the senior engineer regarding this,” she explained.

The Fine Gael councillor said a road safety audit will take place in the coming weeks. “Functionality will be looked at in terms of built infrastructure. All aspects of safety will be assessed at that point.”

Cllr Kiely concluded that she will give a further update once the report comes back.

A spokesperson for Limerick City & County Council said: “The Ros Mor/Kilmallock Road Active Travel Scheme was approved by councillors via a Part 8 planning application in October 2022, having gone through a statutory public consultation process. The project has been subject to a full, independent Road Safety Audit.

“As part of the project, a new three-arm roundabout to the entrance of the housing estate is being constructed. The roundabout is required to expand the bus service to this location, as required under local transport policy, i.e. the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy 2040.

The Active Travel team and the appointed contractor on site is continuing to engage with local residents and other stakeholders as construction on the project approaches its final stages. The scheme is anticipated to be completed in Q3 of 2024,” stated a council spokesperson.

The Ros Mor/Kilmallock Road Active Travel Scheme was delivered by Limerick City & County Council and funded by the National Transport Authority.