Motorcyclist raises safety concerns over A6 wire rope barriers

A County Derry motorcyclist has expressed safety concerns over the installation of wire rope barriers on the new A6 dual carriageway.

The woman voiced her concerns last week as work continues on the £220 million scheme, which had been due to open earlier this year.

While no official opening date has been announced, it is understood the installation of safety barriers, road markings, signage, street lighting and the completion of a Road Safety Audit are causing further delays.

The woman, who preferred not to be named, said she believes that the wire rope barriers, which are currently partially installed on a large portion of the A6 dual carriageway and Dungiven bypass, pose significant hazards to motorcyclists.

The woman has also accused the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) of 'cutting costs' by installing this type of central barrier.

January 2021 saw a change to regulations which govern central reservation crash barrier requirements, where central reservations were required to install rigid barriers with a service life of around 50 years.

Last night the DfI acknowledged the concerns motorcyclists have with the wire rope barriers however a spokesperson stated that the design is 'compliant with current standards'.

Speaking to the County Derry Post, the woman, who regularly rides a motorcycle, said: “The safety of these wire rope barriers really concerns me.

“If a motorcyclist went into the wire barrier, or a car hits a motorcyclist pushing them off their bike, it could have catastrophic consequences.

“Although motorcyclists will have a helmet on, if their neck, or any limb, hits that rope, it would cut them in ribbons.

“If a car hits one of those barriers, it will just slice into it and cause significant damage but with a car, at least you will have some protection. A motorcyclist doesn't have that.”

According to the latest statistics, in the period from 2011 to 2020 across the North, 1,031 motorcycle collisions resulting in fatalities or serious injury, were recorded with roadside objects. From the data available, one incident was the result of motorcycle collision with a central reserve safety barrier.

A DfI spokesperson said: “The Department recognises the concerns that motorcyclists have with wire rope barriers. Whilst it is recognised that the installation of all safety barriers involves an inherent element of risk, this needs to be considered against the benefits in mitigating the severity and implications of collisions for all road users.

“In January 2021, design standards across the UK were updated to require high containment barriers with a 50 year design life, normally concrete, in the central reserve of dual carriageways with daily traffic flows exceeding 25,000.  This requirement was previously focussed solely on motorway type roads.

“The A6 scheme specifications and design requirements were set over five years ago. Traffic flows on the A6 are also below the 25,000 threshold and therefore the design remains compliant with current standards.”

The woman added: “These barriers are no doubt cheaper to install than a crash barrier.

“The department are claiming that the design requirements for this road were set five years ago, before design standards for safety barriers were updated but the way I look at it, if I was building a house and I apply for planning permission, I have to follow the planning laws and if they change then I have to change my plans to suit, so why can't the department do the same?”