Dangerous T-junction at Carrick industrial estate

A safety audit of the Ross Road junction in Carrickmacross was requested by Cllr PJ O’Hanlon (FF) at last week’s meeting of Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District. Underlining the urgency of the matter, his motion read that he had “serious safety concerns with articulated lorries being able to safely exit from the Ross Road without stalling in the middle of oncoming traffic on the Castleblayney Road".

Funding for road safety improvements at the junction was secured in 2021 and elected members had since been told that these would form part of an Active Travel Scheme. Five years on, nothing has happened, O’Hanlon’s motion concluded.

In introducing the proposal, the Fianna Fáil representative observed: “I live at that junction. Articulated lorries are coming up the hill and going back down. It’s frightening, there are over 1,000 students between the two schools across the road (Inver College and the Patrician High School)."

The town needs the businesses in the industrial estate to continue to thrive, Cllr O’Hanlon continued. However, he observed: “Lorries have too much weight on them.”

He enquired if axels were specified on signage and if the signage was correct. The Carrick-based councillor said that he had personally witnessed lorries at the top of the hill sliding back down it a little bit, when there was traffic coming behind.

“This MD got a tenth of the €1.5M in Active Travel funding that they got in Monaghan MD. Are the road safety improvements being incorporated into the Active Travel Scheme?" Cllr O'Hanlon asked of the executive.

Insisting he wasn't being "dramatic", he demanded that something be done. "If something happens there, I am going to feel guilty," he said.

“I am not making this up, 40-foot lorries coming up the hill are not able to make it. I am asking the roads section to come in here and ask them why this is not happening. If there is an accident, then it will be too late,” Cllr O’Hanlon concluded.

He also acknowledged Cllr Colm Carthy’s (SF) efforts to improve safety on Ross Road. Cllr Carthy had sent his apologies to the meeting.

Seconding, Cllr Noel Keelan (SF) observed that his party colleague, Cllr Carthy lived in that area of town too. The issue with funding needs to be clarified, he said, adding that the ongoing situation must be addressed. “It’s a busy junction; something needs to be done before there is an accident or a fatality. If a 30-40 tonne HGV loses control, it’s carnage,” the elected rep concluded.

Cllr Peter Conlon (FG) said that he had seen lorries rolling back down the hill even in dry weather.

Director of Services Cathal Flynn committed to follow up on the issue with that department within the local authority.

Cllr O’Hanlon’s motion was adopted with unanimous support.