Go-ahead given for big improvement project in North Tipp village

The Councillors gave the go-ahead to a big improvement project in Carrigahorig, during the October monthly meeting of Nenagh Municipal District.

The scheme includes pavement improvement works and safety improvement works and has been approved by Transport Infrastructure Ireland. The total funding for the project is €1.6 million.

During their previous meeting, back in September, the Councillors were given an update by a Council official on the plans for the proposed upgrade to the village. The Councillors gave it a mixed reaction. One councillor said it was very positive and is the culmination of at least ten years of work and will be “a terrific project” for Carrigahorig when it’s completed. Another Councillor questioned removing the central white line on the N65 running through the village. He also questioned the proposal to move the speed limit sign closer to the N65 / Terryglass junction, pointing out that it's already a dangerous junction and moving the sign closer to it will make it even less safe, “because cars will now be driving faster towards the junction.”

Since the September meeting the Councillors and Council officials spent the few weeks discussing the matters in question and reaching for compromises and solutions.

They discussed it at length during the October meeting before voting on whether the scheme should go ahead or not. Cllr Michael O'Meara said he was now happy with the proposed scheme because the Council executive had agreed to not move the speed limit sign closer to the dangerous junction. Cllr Joe Hannigan echoed Cllr O'Meara's position. “We have been told that we can only change the positioning of the speed limit sign by adding a new by law, therefore I'm happy with the situation now. The sign is staying in its current location."

A member of the Council executive ran through the main points raised previously by the Councillors. “The points raised at the previous Municipal District meeting,” he said, “included safety concerns at the R493 / N65 junction (the Carrigahorig to Terryglass route) due to the proposed location of the new 50kph speed limit sign. There were also concerns in relation to the provision of on-line bus stops within the village. The councillors made a request that we look at offline bus stops and if they could be incorporated instead. There were also concerns about the removal of the centreline from the road carriageway through the village.”

He said the centre line will be removed. “We are removing it because it will reduce vehicle speed and the number of accidents.”

He also pointed out that changing the location of speed limit signs “follows a different legislative process to the Part 8 planning process. The legal extent of speed limits cannot be changed under the Part 8 process. To change them requires a change to the by laws. Our recommendation during the next national speed limit review will be for the 50kph limit location to be moved closer to the village; but as part of this current road improvement scheme the speed limit sign will remain where it currently is.

“Regarding the bus stop locations we had discussions with the Transport Infrastructure Ireland Safety Team, who told us that there are no outstanding circumstances that would require the provision of Offline bus stops. The bus stops being provided are in accordance with the National Transport Authority standard for Online bus stops. The Cycle Design Manual states the following 'Out of Lane, offline, bus stops should only be provided in urban areas where there is a compelling safety issue (such as high-speed roads, poor sight lines, etc) or long stopping times'. The required sightline as per the County Development Plan is 49 metres, which is achieved in both directions. The sightline heading northwards through the village is 103 metres. The sightline southbound is 85 metres. Providing Offline bus stops would require purchasing additional private land, removing four mature trees within the park; updating environmental reports and therefore risk having to submit the application to An Bord Pleanála which would further delay the project; and incurring additional design and construction costs which would not be approved by TII.”

The Council official added that the removal of centreline markings is in accordance with the Department of Transport's Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS) which points out that “the removal of the centre line markings has been found to reduce vehicle speeds and the number of accidents. With reduced signage drivers must navigate the street environment with full regard to their own behaviour and the behaviour of others around them.” The official said that when he discussed the centreline markings removal in Carrigahorig with the TII safety team, “they still recommended the removal of the markings. They stated that numerous pieces of research have been done which found that the principle is effective for reducing speeds on narrow urban carriageways. The TII however said they will be happy to review this decision if needs be at a later date. They said that post construction speed monitoring within the extents of the scheme will take place to determine the impact of the design proposals and further road marking amendments etc could be carried out if deemed necessary following the monitoring phase.”

He said the Online Bus stops were added to the scheme's design following a TFI Local Link request. He added that the junction at the village's bridge will be realigned to make it safer. There will be an upgraded and widened footpath going up the hill; as well as a new footpath to connect a pedestrian crossing to the park. Public lighting will be provided throughout the village.

Cllr Michael O'Meara proposed that they go ahead with the scheme and commence construction work. Cllr Seamus Morris seconded.