Angry Mayo residents plan to block N60 to highlight road safety fears
RESIDENTS of Ardboley in Balla are up in arms over the refusal by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TTI) to reduce the speed on the N60 at which traffic pass the busy junction into and out of their village from 100 to 60 kilometres per hour.
They outlined their frustrations to elected members and officials of Castlebar Municipal District at a meeting today at Balla Community Centre and vowed to block the main road between Balla and Claremorris for a day unless works are carried out.
There have been several incidents in recent months in which motorists lost control of their vehicles at the spot and ploughed into walls, fields and concrete flowerbeds.
A delegation representing the community said they feared a fatal accident will occur at the location unless to the 'nightmare' problems are urgently addressed.
Tim Lavin, a member of the delegation, said residents are putting their lives at risk on a daily basis and they felt they were being treated like second class citizens by the TTI and others.
“We are not going to take it any more. This is the start of a process that is not going to be reversed,” he stated.
Mr. Lavin's interview with The Connaught Telegraph accompanies this report.
Michael John Carney, another Ardboley resident, said they are seeking a similar traffic calming scheme that is in place at Ballyvary and Bohola on the N5 as well as speed barriers on both sides of the road, footpaths and public lighting.
“If nothing happens between now and October, we will block the road and slow down the traffic ourselves. Our warning is issued. It's a miracle that nobody has been killed at the location and we want to ensure that it never happens.”
Local GP Dr. Jim Broderick, who resides oppositive the Ardboley junction, said he had to rebuild the wall around his property four times because of the damage caused by vehicles crashing.
He stated there is a lack of confidence by residents that elected representatives are taking the matter seriously enough as a result of their claims that their hands are tied due to the final decision resting with the TTI.
“The full seriousness of the situation has to be taken on board. There is a way of getting these things done and we depend on our elected represeentatives to do so,” he added.
The council agreed to invite an inspector from TTI to meet the residents in a bid to secure a resolution.
Councillor Michael Kilcoyne, cathaoirleach, gave a commitment to the residents that elected members will support the protest by standing with them in blocking the road.