Residents address Mayo N60 junction safety concerns at council meeting

EFFORTS are continuing to resolve residents safety concerns around a junction realignment at Balloor, Castlebar, as part of the Breaffy Active Travel Scheme.

Residents from the village attended the monthly Castlebar Municipal District meeting this week, which was told the council is progressing measures in response to their concerns.

Following a site meeting, a section of the Balloor Road is being widened to improve access and visibility. There will also be minor improvement works at the transition point between the Balloor Road and the R308, along with a review of the kerb alignment.

But residents also heard that while a commitment was given to a review, the local authority has to work within the constraints of national design and safety guidelines.

Local resident Kathleen Gillespie told the meeting the junction had been perfectly safe and accessible before the recent improvement works took place, but it is now a deathtrap.

And Frank Forde said there was nothing in the email that issued from the council outlining the measures above that gave them confidence that much will be done.

He appealed for changes to be made to the junction, saying: “Let's not wait for somebody to be injured or a fatality before we make those changes.”

Mr. Forde also pointed out that safety on the Balloor Road in general is an issue, with increased traffic on the busy route, and a lot of it speeding.

He point out the increase in residential traffic alone, with 11 houses and eight cars on the road back in 1972 where there is now 52 homes and probably around 100 cars. The road is also busy with Belcarra/Frenchill traffic, a lot of it commercial.

Councillor Blackie Gavin said they have to get it right from the word go, and the exit needs to be widened and the steepness taken out of it so cars can progress in a safe manner, and it also need footpaths and lighting to make it safer.

Residents are asking for a bespoke solution, Councillor Harry Barrett reminded management, to reduce the gradient. The design, they say, introduces a heightened level of risk and they want a formal review by the roads office.

He agreed that people coming out of the junction at the moment don't face a safe exit.

And he pointed out how there has been increased traffic on the road and speeding, yet no data has been collected on this and that's essential.

Councillor Cyril Burke said the junction has been narrowed, with people backing up behind vehicles trying to turn right. And it is blind, particularly for motorists in low vehicles.

This is about safety, commented Councillor Ger Deere, and the scope has to be changed.

The residents came up with very practical solutions and they have to be listened to, he said.

Cathaoirleach Councillor Al McDonnell expressed disappointment with the 'inflexibility' he encountered in speaking with senior engineers.

The emphasis was that this was in the interest of pedestrians almost exclusively and the crossing distance had to be minimised, but he questioned the projected footfall of pedestrians.

Elected representatives urged management to try and get a solution.

This is an active travel scheme, they were reminded, and the safety of pedestrians is a key objective. But it has to be safe for all road users, municipal head David Mellett stressed.

The most dangerous road user is the driver. The infrastructure is there to influence driver behaviour so there will be a change for drivers and that has to be accepted.

Cars will have to slow down and take the junction slower.

The roads office has undertaken to carry out the works outlined.

* Published under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme