Road safety fears in the Black Valley

LOCAL RESIDENTS’ WORRIES OVER ROAD SAFETY TRIGGER RANGE OF SUGGESTIONS

KERRY County Council engineers will meet with residents of the Black Valley after members of The Black Valley Community Group this week made suggestions they feel will make roads in the area safer and more accessible.

Ann Marie O’Donoghue spoke on behalf of the group during a deputation requested by all members of the South and West Kerry Municipal District. She said that landowners and residents face increasing pressure from a large increase in recreational activities in the area.

“As a community, we have great concerns over the safety of road users,” the group outlined during a detailed presentation in Killorglin.

“The amount of traffic on the Gap of Dunloe road is currently unsafe and impractical with its current infrastructure, and a single lane road is not enough to sustain the traffic. It is first a foremost a public road surrounded by privately owned and farmed land.

“If the area is going to continue to be promoted among the tourism boards then the infrastructure and facilities need to be in place to support that.”

Among the suggestions put forward by the group included signage warning of road and landscape hazards and a detailed public information system to assist crowd management during peak season. They also called for pre-reportage of major events, and clear communication between groups concerned and involved with such events. Other suggestions included a time limit at certain viewing areas and moves designed to encourage visiting motorists to enter via Molls Gap as well as Gap of Dunloe road.