Louth councillor appeals for traffic calming on rural road used by HGVs

Cllr Emma Coffey has asked that Louth County Council look into some way to provide traffic calming measures on the road from Stonetrough on the Carrickmacross Road (R178) to Hackballscross on the Castleblayney Road (N53), that goes through Cortial and other townlands in Knockbridge and Kilkerley, saying that there is a serious traffic issue, with heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) from two companies in particular using it as a shortcut.

Cllr Coffey raised the matter at the Dundalk Municipal District April meeting, saying that it "is an accident waiting to happen", and that people had contacted her on that day alone in relation to damage to a vehicle, and that local residents "can't even get out of their driveway".

The Fianna Fáil councillor said that some residents are now putting breeze blocks at the entrance to their driveways to try and get out, and that two lorries cannot pass each other on the road and that verges of the ditches are being cut up. She added that she experienced it herself last year when she was canvassing for the local elections, and had to pull into the ditch because a lorry was travelling that far over the road, resulting in damage to her car.

Cllr Coffey told the April meeting that the lorry drivers were saying, when they were stopped, that it's quicker to get to the Castleblayney Road going that way, than going through Ardee.

"I don't know what can be done, but something has to be done", Cllr Coffey said, and questioned if an approach to the particular hauliers could be made. "Nobody can walk on that road, nobody can cycle on that road, nobody can even get out of their property on that road", she added.

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Cllr Coffey added that when trying to reason with the drivers, they were "shouting all kinds of obscenities" and making hand gestures to people, further adding, "road safety is for everybody".

Replying to Cllr Coffey, Senior Executive Engineer, Paddy Connolly, said that traffic management is a garda issue and that they can't stop vehicles going on public roads.

Cllr Coffey said that she was not suggesting that, but added, “surely we can do some sort of traffic calming, which is in our remit. I'm simply looking for something to be done", and that "I certainly am not resting easy when I'm seeing what I've seen".

Mr Connolly came back to say that there is no provision for the council to carry out traffic calming works on the road, and that they have looked at the junctions, adding that on an 80kph rural road, there is very little traffic calming they can do.

Cllr Coffey said that she was aware that it was not a straightforward solution but asked that it be looked at, adding that people are entitled to their safety and the quiet enjoyment of the roads, and that for HGV lorries who are using the roads as a supposed short cut, is going to cause an accident.