Call for road safety measures in Emyvale village

- Peter Hughes -

The implementation of road safety measures in the North Monaghan village of Emyvale needs to be expedited, Cllr Bronagh McAree told the January meeting of the Monaghan Municipal District.

She said the road safety improvement scheme on the N2 in the village is now almost a year behind its initial projected provision, but she welcomed confirmation at the meeting that construction is planned for the second and third quarters of this year.

Cllr McAree added that she was being “inundated” with requests for additional signage to be provided at the traffic ramps leading into the village. An incident occurred the previous weeks where the traffic lights in this location were "completely mowed out of it" and dragged down the road by a vehicle.

While speed was undoubtedly a factor, she thought the incident highlighted the need for further signage. She asked when the traffic lights are to be reinstalled.

Cllr McAree also called for yellow box road markings to be installed at the 'Red Boy’s' premises and the village post office, stating that there are many residences in the vicinity of the post office and lorries are parking literally outside people’s front doors.

MD co-ordinator, Martin Taylor, said the request for additional signage in Emyvale has been brought to the attention of the National Transport Authority (NTA), but currently all the signs required for the prevailing 50km speed limit are in place. The Gardaí are investigating the incident in relation to the traffic lights, he added.

Mr Taylor added that a contractor has performed a survey of the work required and he hoped that the lights would be back in place in the coming weeks.

Footpath works in Tydavnet

Cllr McAree welcomed footpath works carried out in the village of Tydavnet, describing them as much needed. She was aware a speed survey had also been carried out in the village and asked to be informed at a future meeting if further traffic management measures are planned as a result of its findings.

She also renewed her appeal for the provision of a bus shelter for the Ballyoisin and Knockconan areas of Emyvale, pointing out that up to 30 children waited for school buses in this location every morning.

Pedestrian safety on the Clones Road

Measures are in train, meanwhile, to improve pedestrian safety on the N54 in the Clones Road area of Monaghan Town, it was reported to the January meeting of the Monaghan MD.

Correspondence from the Monaghan County Council Roads Department confirmed that discussions had been held with Transport Infrastructure Ireland’s Road Safety Section regarding the potential provision of a controlled crossing at the entrance of the Knockroe housing estate, adjacent the access point to the Ulster Canal Greenway.

TII has accepted the merits of the proposal and said it will consider it, the correspondence added. The county council is now preparing a report on the benefits of the intervention to be submitted to TII for approval.

Cllr Alan Johnston (FG) said it is great to see that TII is amenable to providing safety features on the N54 in this location. A recent speed survey had shown a significant number of vehicles travelling in excess of the speed limit in the area and revealed that HGVs accounted for 28% of the traffic using the road.

“We all know the dangers that HGVs can pose,” Cllr Johnston remarked.

Play facility in Scotstown

February should see works completed on a new children’s play facility in the village of Scotstown, the members of the Monaghan Municipal District learned at their January meeting.

MD co-ordinator, Martin Taylor, said Murphy Playgrounds has been appointed to carry out the work at Luí na Gréine and the equipment is due to be delivered at the end of January. Some €18,887 had been secured from the Department of Children, Disability and Equality for the project and the public consultation process had included input from the children of the area.

Cllr Niamh McCooey (SF) described the initial delay in the delivery of this project as disappointing but hoped that “the end is now in sight” and the facility would be ready by the end of next month.