Calls for action as traffic calming in busy Limerick village dates back over 20 years
Councillors heard that traffic calming measures installed more than 20 years ago may no longer be sufficient for current traffic levels.
THE LAST time traffic calming was installed on roads in a busy Limerick village was in the early 2000's, a council meeting has heard.
The figure was revealed at the May meeting of the Cappamore-Kilmallock Municipal District when Independent councillor Brigid Teefy tabled a motion calling for "additional traffic calming measures be considered for Boher village on the N24."
She made the request "due to the high volume of passing traffic and ongoing road safety concerns for residents, pedestrians, and road users."
Cllr Teefy said that while "traffic calming has been there a long time, the volume has increased" noting that there is a "big population" and are more businesses in the village now, including a coffee shop and bar as well as a bus stop.
She highlighted that the crossroads onto the N24 is "really hard going" and motorists have to "wait ages" for a break in the traffic.
As part of her motion, which was seconded by Cllr Martin Ryan, she requested a "speed check" so that the MD can "see what's happening there" as the volume of traffic "morning and evening is just continuous."
Trevor McKechnie, Acting Senior Engineer, noted that with any issues identified on the road, the department will have to liaise with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) before any works can progress as the N24 is a national road.
In a written reply to the motion, Darragh Corcoran, A/Senior Executive Engineer for the district, said that "a Traffic Calming scheme was completed on the N24 at Boher in the early 2000's."
He explained the scheme included "the construction and installation of a number of traffic calming measures over a 500m section of roadway."
Mr Corcoran confirmed that the MD office "will carry out a revised traffic survey to assess current traffic volumes and speed at this location."