Road closures, new turns: full list of safety measures for notorious Mayo road
Several fatal accidents have occurred on the N17 near Claremorris in recent years. Picture: Conor McKeown
A plan to improve road safety on the N17 by closing eight junctions and opening five new right-turning lanes will go out for public consultation.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has worked in conjunction with Mayo County Council to implement road safety measures on the N17 where there have been a high number of fatalities.
Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District senior engineer Conrad Harley presented a report on the proposed junction closures at last week’s meeting of the municipal council. The meeting was told that there had been 12 fatalities on the N17 this year alone, including six on a 6.5km stretch outside Claremorris.
Mr Harley said studies show around 9,200 vehicles use this section of the N17 every day with peak times between 1pm and 7pm. The top speed recorded was 164km and the highest speed recorded by a HGV (heavy goods vehicle) was 144km. The average speed of vehicles was 94km with over 90% of drivers driving between 90 and 103km.
He said it was proposed to close eight junctions at the following locations as they add unnecessary levels of confusion on this section of the N17 which has a high volume of traffic that is travelling close to the maximum speed limit: Shanvaghera (Knock side), the top of Barnacarroll hill, the back road to Ballinasmaula and the opposite road to Drumneen south, the road to Eskerlevalley, Castlegar junction, Pope's Road/Bog road and the Garryduff junction. The closures will involve the removal of existing signage, fencing off current entrances and grassing them up.
Mr Harley said it was also proposed to construct five new right-turning lanes at the following locations: into Loughnamann, the Old Knock Road coming back into Claremorris, the road to Ballinasmaula village and Cartron Cross and two roads beside the petrol station near Lisduff, which involves moving the golf club entrance road closer to Ballindine.
The engineer said the public consultation process would begin in the near future.
"We are hoping to receive submissions, both positive and negative, on this to gauge how the whole public feels about it," he said.
Cllr Richard Finn proposed moving the plan to the public consultation stage and said councillors had a duty of care to their constituents.
“We have a duty to take. We’re not going to stop all accidents but we might just help to bring about a reduction."
Cllr Patsy O’Brien criticised the plan and the impact closing eight junctions could have on Claremorris town. He said four of the junctions highlighted had no accidents while another junction at Castlemacgarett had been the scene of a fatality and was not included in the list.
“This is a knee-jerk reaction, we’re driving a nail with a sledgehammer. Eight junctions is a bit too far,” he said. “If the TII was serious about road safety, they would not have removed the right-hand turn signs that warn you when there is a turn coming up a kilometre away.”
Cllr Alma Gallagher said she did not agree with Cllr O’Brien’s description of the plan as a "knee-jerk reaction".
“I have been calling for an evidence-based approach to the N17 and sometimes you have to make unpopular decisions for the betterment of our communities,” she said. “It is every parent's worst nightmare to hear their child has to drive on the N17, so many hearts have been broken on that road."
Cllr Paul Lawless said it was great to see movement on the proposed safety works and he urged the public to engage with the consultation process.
Cllr Michael Burke said there was "something scary" about the N17 and that it was shocking to hear that a HGV drove at 144km on this road as it "breaks every rule in the book".
Cllr Damien Ryan said 85% of drivers were driving in compliance with the rules of the road and he would like to see better enforcement to punish the remaining drivers who were not compliant.
Cllr Adrian Forkan welcomed the plan but said it was important the N5 remains on the agenda and does not "get lost" in terms of priorities as there are a number of "deathtrap" locations along that roadway near Swinford.
Cllr Gerry Murray said if this plan saved lives, it would be worth it. He added that the Knock to Collooney motorway needs to be put back on the agenda, a point that was supported by Cllr Paul Lawless.
Mr Harley said he is hoping these proposed works can be a first tranche of road closures to make the N17 safer and will look at other junction closures too.
