Driver behaviour endangering pedestrians on narrow Ennis road

A MAN has been struck twice by passing cars on a stretch of local road which sees motorists engage in “games of cat and mouse” prompting calls by Ennis councillors for the introduction of a temporary reduced speed limit.

Increasing volumes of traffic on the narrow local road at Kilbricken that runs from Ballaghboy cross/Quin road to the N85 Dual Carriageway has resulted in “a nightmare” for those living in the area, a meeting of local councillors has heard.

Speaking at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, deputy mayor Councillor Paul Murphy outlined that growing numbers of traffic “has resulted in increased traffic jams/snarls, incidences of verbal altercations between motorists and games of cat and mouse as to which driver can beat the oncoming car to the next passing point.”

He continued, “Residents living on the road have to endure this on a daily basis and have made me aware that a local man has been struck by a vehicle on two separate occasions.”

The man hurt his collar bone in the latest incident, Councillor Murphy revealed.

The route currently has a speed limit of 80kph, however the councillor proposed that a temporary speed limit of 50kph be introduced in advance of the next speed limit review. He also urged that a prohibition on all heavy goods vehicles be introduced and enforced by the Traffic Corps, with mart days “particularly bad”.

The councillor further requested that funding for the planned relief road from Skehanagh Roundabout to the Quin Road be sought “as this is the ideal solution” and would improve traffic flow across Ennis.

The motion was backed by Councillor Mary Howard who stated this issue “comes up on a regular basis”. Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy recalled a similar motion she put forward saying she uses this road on a regular basis agreeing “it’s like cat and mouse”.

Councillor at Daly voiced his support for the introduction of a 50kph limit saying, “this is a hugely busy link road”.

Councillor Johnny Flynn recalled how the route known as the Old Bog Road had been used “for years and years” and was the “original Ennis East bypass” and was particularly busy during the Galway Races with traffic “constant all the way out to Barefield”.

Eamon O’Dea, Senior Executive Engineer, responded, “The Ennis Municipal District will raise the request for a temporary construction speed limit and heavy good traffic restriction on the Old Bog Road with the Transportation Section of the Council.

“The funding of any new road infrastructure for the Ennis Municipal District area would only be considered following the completion of the Clare Area Based Transport Assessment and the Ennis Mobility Plan-Area Based Transport Assessment by Clare County Council which are funded by the National Transport Authority.”

Councillor Murphy concluded, “It’s a nightmare for those who are living there. Pre the dual carriageway and motorway it was very much a local road and it’s become increasingly hard for them to live there.”