Whitemill Road set for major work
WEXFORD County Council is hoping that narrowing Whitemill Road slightly will have the effect of encouraging motorists to give way to each other as part of a ‘give and take’ system. This will be just part of major work due to get under way from next week on Whitemill Road which includes re-surfacing, repairs to the footpaths and the introduction of proper car parking spaces to prevent parking on footpaths.
The road has long been a source of tension between drivers as, with cars parked on the side of the road between the entrance of Wolfe Tone and the turn for Corish Park, it can be difficult for two cars to pass each other safely. As a result, there have been a number of incidents with one resident reporting that their parked car had been damaged on no fewer than three occasions - something they had to bear the cost of themselves.
Councillors Tom Forde and George Lawlor have long raised the concerns of the residents and were both delighted to hear that action was being taken.
‘They’re starting on the footpaths next week,’ Cllr Forde said. ‘The District Engineer has stated that they will be widening them a bit and creating proper parking spaces, which will narrow the road a bit. The hope is that this will slow drivers down a bit and they’ll give way to each other. From the Panda House to the Corish Park junction in particular has been a big problem and I know several cars have been damaged.’
Cllr Lawlor added: ‘The hope is that this will regulate itself. A ‘give and take’ system will be introduced on a trial basis and we’ ll see how that pans out. Basically it would mean that drivers will naturally give way to each other, as we’ve seen in other places such as narrow bridges and that type of thing.’
Both councillors were also keen to ensure that traffic calming measures were put in further up the road between Kennedy Park and the turn for Corish Park to slow traffic down.