Rumble strips have been identified as a potential solution to a Cratloe bridge which has been the scene of “several crashes” in recent months.
Addition of rumble strips on all approach roads to Poulawilly Bridge was sought by Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF) at a recent meeting of the Shannon Municipal District. He also asked that the road be realigned.
Confirmation of its inclusion in the 2022 schedule of works was issued by senior executive engineer, Tom Mellett.
“There have been several crashes there in the last couple of years, a number of them have been in the past couple of months,” O’Gorman said.
He revealed that he almost had an accident at Poulawilly Bridge before Christmas. He recalled that there had been false dawns on works with motions also tabled by Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) and Cllr John Crowe (FG) on the matter, “it is coming up the whole time”.
O’Gorman said, “we need something to remind people they are coming into a very serious bend from three sides”. He emphasises that Poulawilly Bridge was the pinch point to the danger.
Mayor of Clare, Cllr Ryan agreed, “it is a very dangerous area”. He told the meeting he has had motions for some time seeking a concealed entrance at the road side. On the Cratloe side, there is a “very poor view” of traffic emerging from Sixmilebridge “which generally speaking is coming very fast”
Ryan added, “Something should be done sooner rather than later, there has been a lot of accidents, nothing serious yet but it is a serious accident waiting to happen”.
Speeding in traffic has been highlighted consistently over the past twelve months, Cllr Crowe commented.
