Decrease in accidents following upgrade works at Doran’s Bridge
FOLLOWING nearly a year of campaigning from local residents and countless crashes and near misses, the finishing touches have been put to measures that it is hoped will make Doran’s Bridge junction, just outside Kiltealy, a lot safer.
The crossroads, on the Enniscorthy side of Kiltealy, have been the scene of quite a few crashes and locals feared that it was only a matter of time before someone lost their life. Around this time last year, the campaign to do something stepped up a notch after Amanda Cloke, who lives on the junction, made a public plea after yet another car came tumbling into her front garden, where just moments before her nine year-old son had been playing.
What followed were public meetings, the formation of a committee, a petition with over 2,000 signatures and the continued lobbying of public representatives to ensure action was taken. Last week, residents gathered once again at the busy crossroads, however, this time it was a positive news story as they showed off the work that had been done. While it had taken some time for them to arrive, new flashing signs were erected on approach, overgrown areas at the side of the road were cleared out providing a better view and the road at the junction was resurfaced and slightly raised - all in the hopes of making it easier for drivers and preventing further accidents.
Chairman of the committee that was founded to deal with the problem, Noel Armstrong, says that the improvement is massive.
‘ The situation is hugely improved now,’ he said, somewhat relieved. ‘ There have been no major incidents at the cross since the improvement works were carried out. There was probably between six and eight incidents in the same period beforehand. It really is a good news story and we just wanted to thank the council officials and everyone who got behind the campaign and attended meetings and signed the petitions.’
Also coming in for particular praise was Cllr Kathleen Codd Nolan who put a lot of work into getting the work over the line. It is hoped now that the junction is a safer place and the site of smashed up cars and debris on the roads will be a thing of the past.