Residents impacted as narrow Leitrim roads set for safety review

Local roads near Glencar are to be reviewed for potential widening following an increase in traffic in the area that has raised safety concerns.

At April’s meeting of Manorhamilton Municipal District, Cllr James Gilmartin asked that Leitrim County Council explore and assess available options to introduce passing points, passing bays, or similar traffic management measures on the roads in the vicinity of Glencar Community Park.

“Glencar Community Park is used by a number of sporting teams and community groups, resulting in a high volume of traffic, particularly at peak times,” Cllr Gilmartin’s motion stated.

“The narrow nature of the surrounding roads leads to congestion and safety concerns for road users, pedestrians, and local residents. Appropriate measures would improve traffic flow and road safety in the area,” the motion concluded.

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Cllr Gilmartin told the meeting that the local roads in the vicinity are narrow and currently experiencing heavy use, with football teams from all over the county travelling through the area.

“The people in that area because of the nature of the roads, when the traffic comes they’re heavily impacted,” he said. He noted there are a few locations where if two cars meet, one has to reverse back “an awful distance.”

A response from the Roads department confirmed that these local roads will be reviewed and that, if a restoration improvement grant is assigned to the road in the future, the possibility of constructing a passing bay will be examined.

“It should be noted that the only avenue of funding for road widening is a Specific Improvement Scheme Grant. This scheme usually prioritises the reconstruction of regional roads where the traffic levels are higher and the risks more acute,” the reply stated.

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