'Sharp' Mayo speed ramp could 'cause accident rather than prevent one'

A Westport councillor has described a new speed ramp in Murrisk as “a little too sharp” and claimed it could cause an accident rather than prevent one, writes Joan Geraghty.

Independent councillor John O’Malley told the April meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District that the ramp had been installed a little way beyond Campbell’s Pub in the popualr tourist village, but people have complained it is too sharp.

“I drove over it and it surely stopped me, but some young fella will hit that and go off the road some night, that is what is being said to me,” Mr O’Malley said.

“A warning or a sign is needed there now, because if I hit it fast, I don’t know what would happen.

“We want to be careful we don’t go causing an accident rather than preventing one.”

Independent Ireland councillor Chris Maxwell agreed, saying that while the speed ramp is “a great job”, it requires a sign on either side issuing a warning.

“It is very effective because that is what they wanted in Murrisk, to slow the traffic down.

“But you are on it very suddenly and people certainly won’t forget it once they hit it.”

The Louisburgh councillor also welcomed the roadworks in the Murrisk area, but expressed concern that the road is now too narrow.

“A lot of people have commented to me how the road was narrowed. My concern is the council have done it to standards, but I don’t know now can two buses or wagons pass safely, and hauliers and machine operators are worried it seems to be a bit narrow.”

Mayo County Council’s area engineer Heather Gibbons told the meeting:

“The tourism section has confirmed that the roadworks design in Murrisk is to Transport Infrastructure Ireland standards and the speed ramp was also referred last week for a review, so we are waiting on that.”

• Both reports on this page were published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.