Calls for major safety issues on the Ministown and Piltown Roads to be sorted by council
VAST traffic volumes on country roads - and how they can be accommodated - again dominated the recent area council meeting in Duleek, with Road Safety Officer Michael Finnegan admitting that there was a ‘major problem’ on the Ministown Road.
‘It’s not capable of taking the volume of cars,’ he stated.
He said a sign at the Piltown Road junction indicated that traffic could go two ways - down the Ministown Road for Laytown or on the Piltown Road for Julianstown. He said this should be changed to send all traffic via Julianstown and then on to Laytown.
Residents have been complaining that the Ministown Road is being used as a ‘short cut’ to Laytown.
‘We could look at a 3 ton weight restriction on the Ministown Road but I don’t know if many trucks use it. It’s really the volume of traffic that’s the main issue,’ Mr Finnegan said.
He warned that some residents had put out rocks on the side of the road to protect verges but this was illegal. He said if a vehicle hit one of them, the homeowner would be liable. ‘ There will be a civil action, they should not be there.’
Cllr Tom Kelly said people on the road wanted the signs adjusted and a number of houses were on bad bends and they couldn’t even get out of their driveways. ‘ There’s nothing to slow down cars,’ he said. Mr Finnegan added that there were plans for signage and lineage additions on the Piltown Road. Some trees would be coming down to improve sightlines.
Issues outside St Colmcilles GAA Club were raised by Cllr Stephen McKee who said signage was needed, as well as lighting with the junction with the old N1.
‘An upgrade of the Piltown Road is needed. There’s a huge number of commuters on it now,’ Cllr Sharon Tolan stated.
Michael Finnegan said the council were also looking at a speed limit sign for the Garra Road as it had become an issue too.
He added that the gardai would also be on patrol in the area in relation to speeding.