Concerns raised over Mountain Lodge junction
There’s been a call for the installation of speed ramps at the Mountain Lodge Junction where the L3504 and L3510 meet before someone is killed.
Cllr Niall Smith (FF) raised the issue at the Bailieborough Cootehill MD meeting on Monday afternoon. He believes the junction has become very dangerous as people are driving through the crossroads without stopping.
Furthering his case, he said people are parking across the road at the shop at Mountain Lodge. Cllr Smith said he is “afraid of someone being killed”, adding that there are people including children coming out of the shop.
On the L3510 coming from Cootehill, he said “more signage or a small speed ramp” is necessary.
“There’s no point in putting them in after [something happens],” he added.
Cllr Conaty (SF) added to the motion, asking for a speed ramp on the Bailieborough road coming out of Shercock.
“There has been an accident there and I think there will continue to be accidents,” he contended.
Fine Gael’s Carmel Brady seconded the motion, adding that the shop at Mountain Lodge is “busy”.
Area Manager Clinton Mulligan told those gathered that “ramps would not be a suitable option for that location”.
On implementing other safety or traffic calming measures, he said “it is a case of sourcing funding”.
Mr Mulligan also alluded to the fact that drivers need to take responsibility and “slow down”.
“Are the gardaí enforcing it?” he asked, adding that there are currently “no plans to carry out enforcement measures”.
“We simply don’t have funding to do it,” he confirmed.
Cllr Adrian Rogers (Aon) seconded the motion, adding that he is “pestered” with complaints on the junction in question.
He agreed that it “needs a bit of work”.
Footpaths
Also on the safety issue, Cllr Clifford Kelly brought up that there is 35-40 metres of footpath needed on the Bailieborough road going out to a “large housing estate”. He said work done previously “left that patch in the middle” without a path.
He said it is “not a big job” and asked the council to look at the area again.
“It’s not a large area,” he insisted.
Meanwhile Cllr Kelly also asked when works would start in Shercock, to which Mr Mulligan told him that the drainage works have commenced with resurfacing works to start “potentially next month”.
Meanwhile an update was sought on items discussed at the May meeting of the Bailieborough Cootehill MD, which was to carry out road resurfacing works in Drung village and road markings leading into the village on both sides.
“We did get commitment at the May meeting that the main stretch would be redone,” Cllr Conaty pointed out in raising the issue.
Mr Mulligan informed the members that resurfacing works are due to start there this week and the upgrade of the ramps is due to take place “later this year”.