Safety issues bypassed on slip roads?

WITH plans to reclassify the Ennis Bypass as a motorway due to go ahead this Friday, concerns have been raised that slip roads leading to and from the bypass will be “highly unsafe”, once the speed limits are increased.

The Ennis Bypass will see its speed limit increasing from 100kph to 120kph, however, locals have highlighted issues with the new limits.

Ennis man Tom Mangan has raised concerns about the Tulla/Roslevan exit and entry as well as the Barefield exit and entry to the bypass predicting “inevitable tragic accidents”.

According to European motorway standards, he said that entrances and exits must be by means of a slip road “that allows time to increase speed in order to join the motorway safely or, conversely, allows time to decrease speed safely to accommodate travel on more minor roads”.

He highlighted the exit and entry points at Tulla/Roslevan and Barefield as two that do not allow for this margin of safety.

He described the entrances and exits as “neither safe or adequate” adding that “it will be almost impossible to negotiate these turns approaching them at the motorway speed limits and those driving at these motorway speeds may not be expecting the sharpness of the curve on these exits.”

Clare County Councillor Johnny Flynn also outlined his concerns calling for a safety audit to be carried out before the re-designation goes ahead.

“From my past experience as a civil engineer and fire chief attending road traffic accidents, I am concerned about two issues. The first is the lack of signage at various junctions that will lead to confusion for drivers. But more importantly, I am concerned about the layout of the slip roads up and down the Tulla Road and Barefield exits and entries. They are inadequate and not long enough.”

He added that the impact of the bypass at a local level in Ennis has been “significant” saying, “the volume of traffic on the Tulla Road because of the bypass has doubled”.

However, he did acknowledge improvements at Oakleigh Wood, Cappahard and Castlerock as well as welcoming the pedestrian scheme planned for the Quin Road bridge.

However, a spokeswoman for the National Roads Authority stated that the Ennis bypass was built to accommodate the specifications for motorways. She said that additional safety audits have also been carried out, which have shown the bypass complies with specifications for motorways.

“We were made aware of the concerns that had been raised in relation to the bypass and a safety audit would have been carried out before the road was opened. As well as this safety audit, two additional safety audits have been carried out that showed the bypass was in full compliance.”

A total of 294km of national roads will gain motorway status from Friday. Speaking this week, Minister Dempsey said the purpose of this move “is to enhance and protect the national motorway network, the primary function of which is to allow people, goods and services to travel safely and efficiently throughout the country”.