Barrier proposed to ease N5 Mayo underpass safety concerns

A BARRIER has been suggested to protect pedestrians at a controversial underpass on the new N5 in Westport.

There is concern that the carriageway - six metres in total - on the Lodge Road is not wide enough for two artic trucks to pass. They measure 2.8m with a fridge unit and mirrors.

With a footpath for pedestrians running alongside, Councillor Brendan Mulroy told a municipal district meeting that he was 'struggling with the maths of this'.

The councillor said he couldn't understand why there wasn't a barrier, at the very least, put in.

There is great concern that someone will get hurt, he said.

Paul Hyland from the Roads Design Office said the design is in accordance with the guidelines, in an area where a 50kph speed limit applies.

A six-metre carriage was sufficiently wide.

Mr. Hyland told elected members that a road safety audit will have to be carried out at the location and he would raise the issue of a barrier separating pedestrians from the traffic and see what response comes back.

Speed limits are also under review, the meeting was told, and a case could be made to reduce it to 30kph at this location.