Active Travel measures in Limerick spark road safety concern
Permanent safety measures cannot be introduced until work is finished
COUNCIL cannot yet introduce permanent safety measures at a junction on the northside which members believe has become an accident blackspot after Active Travel work.
The building of a bike lane between the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) campus in Moylish and the city centre via Thomondgate is in its final stages.
But at this month’s metropolitan meeting, two councillors raised concerns over the junction between Sexton Street North and O’Callaghan Avenue, which has become an issue since the works were done.
Known locally as Johnsey’s Corner, after the shop at the junction, it’s here where the 303 service between the city, Kileely and Moyross turns, and Cllr Padraigh Reale has said that newly-installed kerbing is already being damaged and chipped away at the junction.
"We are going to have a serious accident at some stage,” he warned.
In written answers to motions from Cllr Reale and Aontu’s Sarah Beasley, council’s transport director John Gannon said the local authority will not be able to fully address the issue until the TUS to city centre scheme is finished.
Then it will launch an audit, which Mr Gannon stated cannot be done ahead of time because it “must evaluate real-world, live traffic operations and road user behaviour under both day and night conditions.”
He did add council is currently assessing what temporary safety measures could be put in place while construction wraps up.
Cllr Shane Hickey-O’Mara, Social Democrats, described the situation as “wild and so dangerous”.
Sinn Fein’s Sharon Benson added: “I was on a bus three weeks ago passing that junction and there was nearly an accident. I was on a bus coming out from Kileely and a car braked in front of the bus. I don’t understand why we need to wait. Everyone has identified an issue at this junction.”