Safety concerns raised over width of new greyway in Leitrim
Concerns have been raised about whether buses, lorries and agricultural vehicles will have sufficient room to pass safely along the Dromod/Rooskey greyway.
Concerns have been raised over the width of the road alongside the new Dromod/Rooskey greyway, with questions being asked about whether there will be sufficient space for large vehicles to pass each other safely.
The issue was raised at a meeting of Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District by Cllr Irene Guckian-Rabbitte, who said the matter had been brought to her attention on numerous occasions.
In her motion, she called on Leitrim County Council to review the width and necessity of the separation zone running alongside the new Dromod/Rooskey greyway.
“While the greyway is welcomed there is a lot of confusion as to the measurements including distances between the outer tips of wing mirrors on large buses and lorries,” her motion stated.
“Given that the speed limit has been dropped from 80km/h to 60km/h is there a need for such a wide separation zone, or any at all? Can the council clarify this and also if bicycles are allowed up on the new greyway,” her motion also queried.
Cllr Guckian-Rabbitte told the meeting that there had been a “near accident” at the location recently.
The greyway will extend for 1.95km along the L1601.
She stressed that while the greyway was welcome, people were concerned about whether large lorries, buses and agricultural vehicles would have sufficient room to pass each other without their wing mirrors or vehicles making contact.
Cllr Sean McGowan noted that the road carriageway would be 6.5 metres wide, exceeding the six-metre minimum for a regional road. Cllr Guckian-Rabbitte said this would be “much better” in terms of accommodating the span of wing mirrors.
District Engineer Emma Donohoe said the separation zone was required for pedestrian safety.
Further clarification on the specific width of the carriageway is to be provided by the Capital Projects Office.
A response from the Roads Department stated, “The greyway is designed to the latest TII specifications for a footway located in a rural area.
“This requires a minimum 1m wide horizontal separation zone for roads with a speed limit of 60km/hr. The greyway is not designed for bicycle use.”