Drivers would be "in the ditch" if they adhered to white line - O'Rourke

Cllr Paddy O'Rourke asked if there had been any progress drawing up a plan to make safe the traffic movements at Glan Cross, Beaghmore, which he requested along with signage to indicate how the road L1586-2 narrows immediately after the cross, making it unsafe for two heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) to meet.

He was advised that "there is no redesign expected at Glan Cross as that would require specific grant allocation under the Specific Improvement Grant. The district no longer receives these grants for road widening or junction redesign. We currently have signage indicating a junction ahead. We can erect road narrows signs from the existing junction to Longford border."

Cllr O'Rourke continued: "It's a very wide area and for years it was too narrow and now it's wide and people are shooting across it. Signage and road markings would go a long way."

He said another issue he is aware of is a "continuous white line in the middle of the road giving the impression, particularly to heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) drivers, that there is enough space on either side of the white line for two HGVs to meet and there isn't."

He said that if drivers were to adhere to this line "their left wheel would be in the ditch". 

Assistant Engineer, Alison McKeon said a road narrows sign can be erected and the council can "see about doing some re-lining at the junction."