NEW JUNCTION ‘AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN’
Safety issues have been highlighted by local truck drivers in relation to a new junction layout at the N72, between Tallow and Lismore junction, at the Glencairn/ Ballyduff road.
According to Tallow truck driver Dermot O’Brien, the junction just past Hornibrook’s Garage, when going from Lismore to Tallow, has been made ‘unsafe’ for those driving heavy goods vehicles.
“It’s an accident waiting to happen. There was a byroad joining on from the Glencairn/ Ballyduff turn off at an angle. There was plenty of room before, but now they’ve made the road narrower to slow down vehicles,” Dermot told
TheAvondhu.
Previously, Dermot claims, there was no issue with the junction. However, new changes made to it means that truck drivers using the junction have to rely on other road users ‘to be aware of the way a truck twists and turns,’ and according to Dermot, ‘most are not’.
CLOSE CALL ALREADY
He went on to explain that when making a right turn there, the rear wheels follow a shorter path than the front wheels and the longer the vehicle, the greater the distance, which means truck drivers must often swing wide in order to complete a right turn.
“It’s too narrow and the radius of the new turn off is too tight. When a truck comes onto it, it’s taking up the whole road,” Dermot added.
While changes have only been made throughout the past week, already Dermot claims, collisions with trucks have ‘almost’ occurred there.
“As I turned off the main road onto the high road, I almost got caught with a car coming up behind me,” he said.
The new junction means that drivers are coming out at a right angle rather than slipping out as was previously done and according to local Councillor, Declan Doocey, the changes at the junction have ‘improved visibility’ for many.
“You couldn’t see anything coming from the Tallow side. The junction was nearly parallel with the road going for Lismore but now you’re stopping at a box. For a big lorry, it’s a different game.
“I think it’s a better job, but changes are always criticised. I didn’t hear any complaints myself, but I haven’t seen it since it was done. It’s only opened officially a day or two,” Cllr Doocey said.
APPROVED BY T.I.I.
A statement from Waterford City and County Council issued to TheAvondhu noted that Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) carried out assessments of all national roads and identified locations where there is potential for collisions.
This programme is called the HD17 Road Safety Inspections (RSI). TII then identified this junction on the N72 and L1014 as a road safety defect from this survey.
Once a hazard has been identified, Waterford City and County Council must carry out a review of the location and implement improvements works.
Waterford City and County Council in conjunction with TII Safety Network team and Tramore House Regional Design Office, assessed the existing road layout at the junction, the statement noted
“The revised layout was designed in accordance with national standards and approved by the TII and passed the required road safety audit. The existing junction joins the N72 at an acute angle of 7°. This severe angle is considered hazardous, from two perspectives:
“1) As vehicles were entering from this junction onto the N72, they were inclined to slip out without stopping, a significant hazard with possible fatal consequences; 2) The acute angle requires a vehicle turning left off the N72 to travel very slowly in order to make the turn, thereby risking rearend shunt type collisions. This vehicle making this left turn off the N72 must reduce speed to such an extent that it may not be anticipated by other vehicles approaching from behind, leading to a rear-end shunt collisions. This vehicle also risks crossing over the white centerline to make the turn,” the statement read.