N17 road junction is a ‘monstrosity’

A junction off the N17 to Templehouse hotel near Ballymote has been made even more dangerous since Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) changed its layout.

That’s according to Fine Gael Councillor Dara Mulvey who urged both the Council and TII to re-examine the recently constructed works at the junction.

Cllr Mulvey said that in the last two weeks alone, two further accidents had occurred there, with one motorist having to be cut out of the car.

“Local and visiting motorists are finding it increasingly difficult to get safely across and onto this stretch of road due to poor sight lines and visibility, and due to excessive speed of oncoming traffic,” he said.

Cllr Mulvey added that the signs needed to be addressed also. “Residents are having to detour up to 3kms to avoid this stretch of road. A 100 yards before the junction there’s a sign with 100km on it,” he said.

He has sent a letter to the TII on behalf of the residents “serious concerns” who want the matter addressed before there is a fatality.

Independent Cllr Margaret Gormley said she too had been contacted by residents about this junction: “What TII put there is an added problem.”

“People are putting their lives at risk to turn right. There is no visibility whatsoever on the right,” she said.

“TII put this monstrosity in place. The visibility coming from Templehouse is non-existant,” she added.

Director of Services Tom Kilfeather admitted there were “particular problems at the junction with regard to sightlines.”

He said some land acquisition was required to improve the sightlines and the Council would make further efforts to improve these.