Call to reduce speeds on 'treacherous' road
TERMONFECKIN ROAD LIMITS 'SHOULD BE CUT TO 60KMH'
Cllr Tommy Byrne says that this junction at Newtown Cross and the Termonfeckin Road is dangerous and needs proper lighting installed to make the road in the area safer.
ROADS leading to Clogherhead and Baltray out of Drogheda are so bad they should all have speed limits of 60km/h, with the stretch to Termonfeckin described as 'treacherous'.
Councillor Tommy Byrne has slammed the state of the roads in a submission on the review of road traffic speed limits currently being undertaken by Louth County Council (LCC)
'For example, the R166 Drogheda to Termonfeckin road, although a straight stretch of road for the most part, is treacherous,' he stated.
' There are two dangerous junctions on this road – Newtown Cross and Beaulieu Cross. There were up to 20 accidents at Beaulieu Cross over the past couple of years.'
He went on to say this and other junctions in South Louth are not lit up at night and requested that these receive urgent attention to improve safety measures at all junctions.
' The hedges along most roads are protruding and need to be trimmed back,' he added.
' The Termonfeckin Road has no hard shoulder and there is a hidden dip.
'It is becoming virtually impossible for local residents and those out walking and cycling to use this road in safety due to excessive speeds as a result of the existing speed limit of 80km/h.'
The councillor said a further example of unsuitable speed limits is the Ballymakenny Road, which is classified as a local road despite having many dangerous bends and junctions.
'In recent years there has been an increase in traffic volumes between Termonfeckin and the old Dublin-Belfast Road in order to gain access to the M1 motorway via this road'.
While calling for a speed reduction from 80km/h, he accepts there could be an argument for considering speed limits on a case-by-case basis rather than a uniform limit on all roads.
'I am prepared to listen to any proposals in this regard,' he said.
- Fiona MAGENNIS
