Mayo County Council officials seek closure of eight junctions on N17

MAYO County Council is seeking to close eight junctions on one of the most dangerous roads in Mayo.

Public consultation is due to begin after the local authority proposed the closure of eight junctions on the N17. Sixteen road traffic collisions have occurred on the road far this year, resulting in six fatalities.

The local authority is proposing to remove signage and road markings and install fence and grass at the junctions, which are located south of Claremorris and north of Knock. Turning circles are to be installed on five of the junctions, if given the go-ahead.

The junctions proposed for closure are at Shanvaghera (Knock side), the top of Barnacarroll Hill, the back road to Ballinasmalla and the road opposite it, the road to Eskerlevalley, the Castlegar junction, the bog road and Garryduff junction. A fixed speed camera is also being trialled at the Ballinasmalla junction.

In a presentation to the members of Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District, Conrad Harley, Senior Executive Engineer with Mayo County Council, said that the junctions were adding ‘unnecessary confusion’ motorist on the N17, causing them to make ‘totally unexpected manoeuvres’.

Mr Harley said that a large number of non-fatal collisions were linked to junctions in the area.

“We see this as the first step, not the final step, towards improving safety on our national roads,” Mr Harley added.

The proposals to close the roads were made on foot of a study of Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District carried out in consultation with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

So far this year, 12 people have lost their lives in road accidents in the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District, making it one of the most lethal municipal districts in the country.

In the Claremorris area alone, the fire service have had 28 callouts to road traffic collisions,

According to the latest statistics, 9,230 vehicles a day travel on the N17. Of these, 85 percent were recorded driving at or below 103 km/h. The average speed recorded was 94 km/h while the highest speed recorded was 164 km/h. The highest speed recorded by a HGV was 144 km/h.

The proposed junction closures on the N17 will be advertised in all local newspapers. The public can make submissions for a period of six weeks, which will inform a report to be presented to councillors at a future date.

The proposals were formally proposed to go to public consultation when put before the October meeting of Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District last Wednesday.

Cllr Patsy O’Brien expressed reservations about the proposals, which he described as ‘a knee-jerk reaction’.

The Independent councillor noted that no accidents had been recorded in four of the proposed junctions studied.

“I think it’s really driving a nail with a sledgehammer, I have to say,” said Cllr O’Brien, who expressed concern about the amount of traffic it would re-direct into the town from side roads.

Fine Gael councillor Alma Gallagher disagreed with Cllr O’Brien, saying that she wanted to see an evidence-based approach to road safety continue.

Cllr Gallagher said public engagement on the matter was ‘absolutely paramount’.

“There’s been so many collisions and hearts broken on that road that now we have an opportunity here to go out to public consultation, to go out to the public with a positive piece of news that we are actually taking action,” said Cllr Gallagher.

Cllr Gerry Murray supported the proposal but said that the ‘ultimate solution’ was the construction of a dual carriageway from Collooney to Knock.

An upgrade of the existing N17 between Knock and Collooney has already been approved and is due to undergo topographical and hydrographical surveys in late 2024.

Cllr Damien Ryan, Cathaoirleach of Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District, said that ‘the concept of doing nothing is not an option’ regarding the N5.

Noting that 85 percent of traffic on the N5 was in compliance with the 100km/h speed limit, Cllr Ryan called for greater enforcement of existing road safety laws.

“There’s a clear message that needs to go out here given the proposals for speed limit reductions around the country: enforcement. Enforce what we have and it works fairly well,” Cllr Ryan said.