'Taking your life into your own hands’: Clare road criticised over major safety concerns

Concerns have been raised about the dangers along one of Clare’s busy connector routes, with critics also highlighting delays in implementing safety improvements.

The issue was raised at the December meeting of Clare County Council in a joint motion by councillors Tommy Guilfoyle, Paul Murphy, Tom O'Callaghan, Claire Colleran-Molloy and Antoinette Baker Basua.

They called on the council to "urgently" engage with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and relevant stakeholders "to install hard shoulders on the N68 Kilrush Road between Endenvale and the junction with the Ballyea Road."

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The improvements are being called for on this particular one kilometre stretch of the N68 to "improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists accessing Ennis or starting their journey's to the towns, villages and townlands in the surrounding countryside."

Cllr Guilfoyle explained the "need for major improvement for the road" as it is a "massive piece of infrastructure."

Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council and Fine Gael councillor Paul Murphy told how he sometimes cycles along the road and in doing so it feels like "you are taking you life into your own hands."

Cllr Tom O'Callaghan said that it is "quite a busy stetch" of road and people who walk or bike along the road are particularly vulnerable.

Fianna Fáil councillor Claire Colleran-Molloy stated that this stretch of road has been "a reoccurring issue for many years" and that the lack of a hard shoulder is a "major issue".

This stretch of road has been deemed as "one of the most dangerous links into Ennis" by Cllr Antoinette Baker Bashua

She also highlighted that over 250 local residents have signed a petition calling for improved safety measures along the road due to "documented collisions and heavy traffic."

Independent councillor Ian Lynch told how there previously was a hard shoulder along the road, but despite opposition, it was removed in the hope that narrowing the road would act as a traffic calming measure and drivers would slow down.

Cllr Michael Shannon said how the "road design is 10 to 15 years old" and needs to upgrades as the way people travel has changed, noting that there are "issues all along the N68 from Ennis to Kilrush."

In a written reply, Cyril Feeney, Senior Engineer said: "We will discuss the issue with Transport Infrastructure Ireland and also include the location in our upcoming strategic review for investment in roads in county Clare."