Unanimous support for increase in N11 speed limit
A proposal to increase the speed limit on certain sections of the old N11, Ferns road, between Enniscorthy and Gorey back up to 100km/h received unanimous support at this month’s meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council.
Executive Technician with the County Council, Helena Browne, presented to the members a draft copy of the County Wexford Road Traffic Special Speed Limit (Amendment) Bye-laws 2020 which outlined proposed changes which came about following consultation with the Gardai.
According to the document presented to the members the new speed limits will ‘reflect the changes of the layout and designation of roads due to the opening of the N25 New Ross bypass and the M11 Gorey to Enniscorthy scheme’.
Ms Browne brought the members’ attention to specific locations and the roads that link them.
The roads on which the proposed increase to 100km/h will be implemented include: The R772, Gorey to Wexford road, from its intersection with the Clogh Roundabout to a point 425 metres north east of its junction with Limerick Lane, Camolin; the Gorey to Wexford road (R772) from a point 275 metres south west of its junction with Railway Road, Camolin, to a point 160 metres north east of its junction with the Kilthomas Road, Ferns; the Gorey to Wexford Road (R772) from a point 540 metres south west of its junction with the Bunclody Road (R745), Ferns, to its intersection with the Scarawalsh Roundabout, and the Gorey to Wexford road (R772) from a point 210 metres south of its junction with Killagoley Lane to its intersection with the Scurlockbush Roundabout.
Ms Browne made reference to certain areas along the affected routes including Kent’s Cross, on the outskirts of New Ross, and the stretch of road between Clogh and Camolin. At the meeting it was acknowledged there have been strong calls to have the speed limits reinstated to their original 100km/h figure.
Director of Services, John Carley, told the members that the stretch of road between Blackstoops Roundabout and Scarawalsh will remain at 80km/h because it’s outside of the Enniscorthy Development Plan area.
He said the stretch is also used by a lot of people for cycling and walking.
Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy asked about cycling lanes being introduced while Cllr Cathal Byrne said he would be happy to support the proposed changes, commenting: ‘The roads should be back at 100km/h.’
There was no formal reference made to the road between Oylegate and Enniscorthy which will remain at 80km/h.
Following adoption by the members the draft changes will go through a public consultation process and then will go back before the full council for adoption.
When asked by Cllr Byrne how long that process will take and when the changes are likely to come into affect Ms Browne said: ‘It will probably be January or February [because] they have to be adopted at the full County Council meeting.’
Cllr Aidan Browne welcomed the proposed changes: ‘I welcome it because for the people of Ferns and Camolin it’s their main road.’ The proposal then received unanimous support from the members.
A proposed 100km/h speed limit increase was also supported unanimously for the stretch of the R723, New Ross to Wexford road, from its intersection with Kent’s Cross roundabout to its intersection with the Ballymacar roundabout.