Councillor warns of 'fatalities waiting to happen' on N17

Councillors have called for a safety review of the N17 between Knock and Charlestown, citing concerns about a series of dangerous junctions and bends along the route. 

Cllr Deirdre Lawless tabled the motion at the recent meeting of the Claremorris and Swinford Municipal District, calling on Mayo County Council to carry out a review with a view to introducing safety measures, including road widening and right-turning lanes. She said similar works on the N17 between Ballindine and Shanvaghera delivered “wonderful” safety improvements and argued that further measures are needed along the road immediately.

“There's a number of junctions up to Charlestown that are very dangerous, and there are fatalities waiting to happen. We can't wait for the Knock to Collooney bypass, we have been waiting for years."

However, while councillors unanimously supported the call for a safety review, there were differing views on the use of right-turning lanes as a safety measure.

While “broadly” agreeing with the motion, Cllr Patsy O'Brien asked whether adding more right-turn lanes was the best method to improve safety for road users. 

“The main [safety] issue is the right-hand lanes. It’s an accident waiting to happen, [drivers] are sitting there waiting for someone to hit them.” ​  

Cllr O'Brien argued that drivers waiting to turn right on a busy national route are vulnerable to rear-end collisions and warned that introducing more right-hand turns could lead to more accidents. 

“Anyone that has to sit on a national road waiting for a car to pass [is] a sitting duck. There will be accidents,” he said.

Cllr Neil Cruise, however, suggested there may be urgency in progressing the motion, given the direction national road design is now taking. Referring to a recent public consultation he attended on the Mount Falcon to Foxford Project, Cllr Cruise told the meeting that, when designing new roads, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), is planning to develop only left-hand turns on and off the road. He warned that adopting such an approach would "wreak carnage in an area".

Noting the specific concerns raised regarding the stretch from Knock to Charlestown, Director of Services David Mellett said the council is “currently progressing a number of significant safety improvement projects on the N17 aimed at reducing collision risk and improving safety for all road users". Mr Mellett explained that the council is currently completing Phase 1 of the N17 Claremorris to Knock Junction Safety Improvement Scheme, which will see six junctions closed, geometric improvements at two locations and the provision of three right-turn lanes.

“Phase 2 is also being advanced and includes the closure of the L25116 Garryduff Road junction, the relocation of the Golf Club Road access junction and the construction of an additional right-turn lane on the N17,” he said.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.