OMISSION FROM a Department of Transport circular is likely to hinder a Toonagh road which has cars travelling at an “unbelievable” speed from sourcing funding.
An appeal was made by Cllr Pat Daly (FF) before the Ennis Municipal District “to try and straighten out the bad bends on the road from Toonagh Stores to Ruan Cross” in close proximity to Ryan’s Quarry.
In August, the Department of Transport provided a circular to all local authorities across the country with regard to ‘Locations of Interest’ (LoI) for regional and local roads.
Acting senior executive engineer, Paddy Tiernan explained, “This circular identified particular roads where a high number of collisions have occurred. The purpose of this report was to assist and prompt local authorities to consider implementing schemes to rectify road safety issues at Locations of Interest. The R476 between Toonagh and the Ruan Cross was not identified as such a location nor were there any locations within Ennis MD which fit the criteria”.
He acknowledged, “Whilst it is positive that there have been no reports of a history of accidents at this location the circular from the Department limits the options available to fund any realignment of this section of road. Ennis MD will work with the Road Design Department of Clare County Council to assess the current condition of the road and determine what funding avenues are available should a scheme be warranted”.
With “so many bad bends” it is currently “a terrible situation” according to Cllr Daly. “Toonagh is on the gateway to North Clare, to Corofin, to Lisdoonvarna and the Burren,” he stated. “I hope they can secure funding because the residents can’t put up with it much longer, the speed of cars is unbelievable”.
Seconding the proposal, Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) noted that Toonagh had been “classed as a bad area with bad bends”. He added, “it is a worthy one and funding is what is required”.
Supporting the motion, Cllr Mary Howard (FG) said she was “very familiar with this section of road. Cars come around the quarry side very fast, there is an awful lot of traffic coming from the school side where there is a fine little school with 100 plus students”.
