Changes to speed limits around corner
SPEED limits at three Wexford locations are expected to be changed following instructions from Transport Infrastructural Ireland (TII).
The changes are coming on stream as part of a National Roads review nationwide.
The National Roads Authority (NRA) undertake a review of the national speed limits on a five yearly basis and their recommendations are included in the traffic byelaws for the relevant local authority.
David Codd of Wexford County Council said that: ‘ The purpose of the National Roads review is to ensure consistency and appropriateness of speed limits across the entire country. The consultants, RPS were engaged by the TII to undertake a nationwide review of all speed limits on national roads.
‘Roads under review in county Wexford include the N25 from Rosslare Harbour to New Ross, the N11 from Wexford to Gorey, the N30 from New Ross to Enniscorthy and the N80 from Scarawalsh to Bunclody.’
He said that the TII had requested that three areas within the Wexford Borough District be changed.
At the N11 in Ferrycarrig the TII recommended that the existing special speed limit of 60km/h on the N11 at Ferrycarrig be changed to 80km/h. In conjunction with this change they propose to increase the number and size of the junction warning signs on both approaches to the R730 (Park Road) junction.
Along the N25 at Tagoat the group recommended that the existing 60km/h special speed limit on the N25 at the Rosslare Harbour side of Tagoat village be shortened by approximately 150m.
The final recommendation is at the N25 Kilrane/Rosslare Harbour. There the existing special speed limit of 50km/h currently on the N25 extends from the Wexford side of Kilrane village to the top of De Lapps Hill in Rosslare Harbour. The TII recommended that the existing 50km/h special speed limit on the N25 be changed to 60km/h from its junction with the L-7102-1 (St Helens Road) to the top of De Lapps Hill in Rosslare Harbour.
Mr Codd said ‘ the alterations to the speed limits will be incorporated into the County Wexford Draft Special Speed Limit Bye-Laws and the full draft document will be presented to the members of the Borough District of Wexford before going out for public consultation.’
Clr Ger Carthy said that he was concerned that the increase at Ferrycarrig would be dangerous and also said that the speed limit in Tagoat should be reduced as traffic was ‘steaming through it’.
Cllr George Lawlor also said he had concerns about the change in speed limit at Ferrycarrig. ‘It is one of the most dangerous junction and it is especially difficult to get out of there. If anything it should be reduced and at best there should be no change at all. There’s a lot of accidents taking place there.’
‘It’s insane to put up the speed limit there’, said Cllr Deirdre Wadding. ‘It’s also madness to put up the speed limit in Kilrane village. That’s probably the busiest part of the road.’
Cllr Jim Moore said there were plenty of other areas in the district that needed to be addressed singling out Barntown in particular. He said that ‘it’s the easiest thing in the world to change the number on a sign but we need more traffic management. Other junctions in the district need attention.’
Cllr Ger Carthy said that the TII should attend a meeting with the members to discuss traffic calming in the area. He was supported by Cllr Tony Dempsey who said there are ‘a lot of concerns out there’.
Outside of the Wexford district a number of changes are also planned which will have an impact on people commuting to work along the N11.
It’s proposed to set new limits of 80 km/h, then 60 km/h, and finally 50 km/h, approaching Camolin from Ferns, with a special 30 km/h limit outside the local national school at specific times of the day. A section of the current 50 km/h limit on the approach from Gorey would increase to 60 km/h.
On the Wexford approach to Ferns, it’s proposed to increase the limit from 50 km/h to 60 km/h almost as far as the roundabout, and to introduce the 60 km/h limit again on the other side of the village at St Edan’s Cathedral.