Signage sought to improve safety on Tallow roads

New signage is on the way for roads around Tallow in an effort to improve safety and reduce speeds in the area.

The junction at the top of Tallow Hill, which concerns were raised about at a previous council meeting, is to see flashing signage installed.

At a meeting of the Dungarvan Lismore District which took place last week, Cllr Mairead Tobin raised the matter of the junction, again noting that a wall in the area remains knocked following an accident. The junction, which meets the Ballyduff road, also saw a warning sign knocked as a result of the collision, which has since been reinstated.

“Is there any possibility of getting that (knocked wall) removed or getting something done to it to avoid another accident occurring,” she queried.

During the earlier February District meeting, Cllr Tobin raised her concerns regarding the junction, noting a number of dangers in the area and stating ‘There is going to be serious consequences if there is not some action taken’.

‘VERY NECESSARY’

Responding to the queries during the April meeting, Senior Engineer with Waterford City and County Council, Gabriel Hynes, stated that the wall can be restored and noted that the council are now seeking an ‘electronic device’ to warn drivers to slow down.

“We’re also in discussion with TII in relation to an electronic device there on the approach coming from Lismore to warn drivers to slow down, as it appears some drivers who are not familiar with the location are driving with excessive speed,” Mr Hynes said.

Cllr Declan Doocey commended the proposal to introduce electronic signage to the area and described it as ‘very necessary’.

“In numerous areas, I think they’re very effective. Weekly there is an issue at that junction at the top of that hill. I would say strangers don’t know that the turn is so sharp,” Cllr Doocey noted.

OTHER MATTER

Nearby the Tallow Hill junction, Cllr Doocey highlighted concerns about the hairpin bend on the N72 between Lismore and Tallow.

According to the local councillor, there is a ‘fair fall’ to the field located just off the bend, and he requested that some form of barrier or prevention be put in place on the south side of the hairpin bend to ensure safety.

Elsewhere in Tallow, Cllr Tobin again raised the matter of advisory signage for Chapel Street in an effort to alleviate the issues on the narrow road, indicating for HGVs to instead use the ‘link road’.

Mr Hynes stated that signs for Chapel Street have been ordered and that the council are hoping to install same in the coming weeks.