Patience running out due to disruption caused by collapsed building in Mohill

Three councillors had motions regarding the ongoing disruption to traffic in Mohill at the latest Carrick-on-Shannon municipal district. 

Cllr Sean McGowan asked that some form of traffic calming measures be provided along Castle Street in Mohill to slow down the traffic with Lower Main Street being restricted to one way traffic while the collapsed building is being made safe adding that people attending the medical clinic, the library, the local school or shops are concerned for their safety.

He said, "We got correspondence from concerned people in the area about the amount of traffic that's using that street with Lower Main Street closed off. I've seen people flying down the road when they see nothing coming at the bottom of the town myself." 

A report by the Economic Development section of the Council said that while there is an increase in traffic volumes using the temporary diversion route via Glebe Street, Water Street and Castle Street, it is considered that, other than the increase in traffic volume, it has not introduced any increase in road hazard over and above that which was there beforehand. 

The response continued that the diversionary route is located wholly within a restricted speed limit zone of 50kmh and that the combination of road lengths (160m, 80m and 145m respectively), 90-degree bends and junction locations on the diversionary route, in and of themselves constitute traffic calming measures sufficient to restrict traffic speeds."

Cllr Thomas Mulligan asked when the works at the location would be complete and was told that the owners consulting engineer met with the council earlier this month to discuss the remaining works and were told works should be completed by January 15 with a determination whether the building remains a dangerous structure following shortly afterwards. The current one way traffic system will remain in place until the building is no longer considered a dangerous structure, Cllr Mulligan was advised.

Cllr Mulligan asked when the two "barricades" would be removed from the street and said "at this stage, people's patience is running out" and said the situation needs to be resolved "this week". 

Full story in this week's Leitrim Observer...