National roads "act like swords" through rural villages

The issue of national roads running through rural villages was raised at the September meeting of the Athlone Municipal District of Roscommon County Council with Cllr Donal Kilduff stating that they “act like swords.”

The issue was raised in a motion from Cllr Emer Kelly calling on the council to install traffic calming measure such as flashing speed signs in the centre of Athleague village on the N63. She also called for a continuous white line in the centre of the village between the two 90 degree bends, instead of the current broken line.

In pointing out that there is no pedestrian crossing in the village, Cllr Kelly described it as an “extremely busy place” and said a very high number of large vehicles go through Athleague every day to the nearby Kepak plant.

Cllr Laurence Fallon supported the motion and said Athleague “is not an easy village to get through” and he also agreed that it was extremely busy.

Cllr Tony Ward said there “should be” a pedestrian crossing in the village and added that “no consideration whatsoever” is being given to elderly people living in the locality, while Cllr Donal Kilduff went one step further by stating that there should be a pedestrian crossing “in every village.”

Cllr Kilduff said villages across the county and country which are traversed by national roads “do not get the respect they deserve” from Transport Infrastucture Ireland (TII) who have responsibility for the national roads network. “These roads act like swords through rural villages” he added “villagers should have priority in their own villages, and not motorists.”

The motion also received support from Cllrs Naughten and Keogh, and it was agreed by the meeting that a letter should issue to TII seeking the installation of a pedestrian crossing and a continuous white line through the centre of the village to replace the current broken white line, in the interest of public safety.