Debate continues over oversized speed ramps on Leitrim road

A meeting is being sought between Council engineers and councillors to discuss the speed ramps on Castlecara road.

At last month's meeting of Carrick-on-Shannon municipal district, Cllr Cormac Flynn proposed a motion to remove the oversized speed ramps on Castlecara road.

While councillors supported the motion, engineers opposed it, arguing that the ramps are in place for safety reasons and would not be removed.

Cllr Flynn highlighted instances where trailers detached from vehicles while crossing the ramps and expressed concern from farmers about cattle being thrown around and injured.

Despite this, engineers remained firm in their stance that the ramps would not be removed or reduced.

At February’s meeting of Carrick-on-Shannon MD, Cllr Flynn continued to push the issue, stating he had reviewed the official guidelines and had the ramps measured.

He explained that 2012 guidelines aim for an “acceptable balance” but argued this was not the case on Castlecara road.

Debate sparks over removal of ramps on Leitrim road

According to the guidelines, speed ramps should be 70 to 100 metres apart, but when factoring the pedestrian crossing, the ramps on Castlecara road are 440 metres apart.

If ramps are more than 150 metres apart, appropriate signage is required which is absent on the road.

Cllr Flynn pointed out that the ramp height should be between 50mm and 100mm, with 75mm being considered a good balance. However, the ramps on Castlecara road are 180mm high.

“They’re not perpendicular to the road or parallel to each other. We had six councillors support the motion and we were told they weren’t being removed,” Cllr Flynn said.

“These are a big bone of contention with people. There’s people with back pain, sciatica or osteoporosis and these ramps are hurting them.”

It was agreed that a meeting with engineers would be arranged to discuss the matter in greater detail.

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