Traffic calming measures causing disruption in mid-Louth council meeting is told

The issue of traffic calming measures in the mid-Louth area was brought up at Monday’s monthly council meeting.

Councillor Paula Butterly said that a number of issues had been raised with her about traffic islands in the area stopping agricultural vehicles from passing through certain towns and villages. 

She told the meeting: 

“The speed bumps that were traditionally put in are now being replaced by islands with speed bumps and they’re populating like mushrooms across the county.

“There seems to be no regard for anyone operating any sort of agricultural machine because they simply won’t pass through it.

“I have received an awful lot of queries in relation to where they have been positioned from Castlebellingham, Dromiskin and, in particular, Dunleer.

“So I’d just like to understand why, instead of the speed bumps that were there and in my mind would have been more cost effective, we have replaced them with these new safety bumps that have been implemented.

Director of Service Catherine Duff told the councillor that consideration was given to the category of road when decisions on installing road safety measures are made.

Sure further stated that there would be a general presumption against speed ramps on regional roads and that such things would be taken into consideration when installations were planned, adding that the objective was to reduce speed.

Councillor Butterly acknowledged that the measures were there to reduce speed, but that safety measures should not be prohibiting certain vehicles from travelling through towns and villages and that this was resulting in people incurring extra costs and time delays.

“What was wrong with what was there before, or what was proposed to be put there before?” she asked.

“These islands are atrocious. Some are even stuck on bends. The one in Castlebellingham where you come out of the castle and swing right… you’re well capable of hitting the island. 

“You go into Clogherhead village and go down the hill. People are telling me left and right that these things are a safety hazard, never mind anything else.”

She concluded by saying that the measures had to be revisited and looked at again. 

Regarding the change from the council installing speed bumps to islands with speed bumps, Catherine Duff said that times and road safety standards change.She further said she was open to looking at specific instances where the measures were causing problems, but that different measures are taken on different roads because of different road categories.

“I do know that there is sort of a quest for ramps,” she said. 

“It shouldn’t be for ramps that you’re looking for. It should be a quest to address speeding issues and that the appropriate measure is taken.”

Councillor Butterly then asked if there was regard for the type of vehicle that needs to pass through on these roads, because “specifically speaking, agricultural machinery in Dunleer won’t get through?”

Ms Duff said there would be regard to road width measurement and what is an acceptable standard for the road width.

 “They are set. There are certain standards for certain categories of roads.”

Independent councillor Maeve Yore voiced her concern regarding the traffic island on the bridge heading out of Drogheda toward Termon Abbey on the corner, stating “there’s going to be a huge accident there.”

Pearse McGeough said that the jury was still out on the traffic calming measures in Castlebellingham citing issues with the placement of pedestrian crossings, but did, however, note that such measures had been effective in dealing with speeding issues near the school in Kilsaran.  

Catherine Duff again said the council would look at any safety issues raised and that while traffic islands were nothing new, they of course had to be done safely and correctly. She said she had noted the councillors queries and would get back to them.