Barrett calls for urgent safety measures on busy Mayo road

Councillor Harry Barrett has called on Mayo County Council and Garda Traffic Corps to take urgent action to tackle speeding and dangerous driving on the R311, Newport Road between the Snugboro turn-off and the Mallard Lake entrance.

“People living along this stretch are afraid for their safety,” said Councillor Barrett.

“It’s a 60 km/h zone, but cars are flying past at 80 km/h or more.

There are no turning lanes, a dip in the road that blocks the view, and cars overtaking where they shouldn’t be.

Families are telling me they’ve had near misses trying to turn into their own driveways," he said.

The road is also popular with walkers and cyclists heading out to Raheens Woods.

“It’s a busy residential road but with no pedestrian crossings after the cemetery turn-off. The footpath even ends abruptly near Mallard Lake, forcing people to cross where traffic is at its worst,” he added.

The independent councillor has written to Mayo County Council’s Engineering Section asking them to look at installing speed ramps or raised platforms, adding pedestrian crossings, and putting in a continuous white line to stop overtaking in the most dangerous section.

He said he also contacted the Garda Traffic Corps to request speed enforcement, particularly at weekends and in the evenings.

“We’ve seen how speed ramps and proper crossings have worked on the Turlough and Pontoon Roads. This side of town deserves the same attention before we’re dealing with a serious accident,” he said.