*Photograph: John Mangan
SPRING 2022 has been set as the target to commence works to improve visibility at Henchy’s Cross.
Long-running safety concerns at the busy East Clare junction are hoped to be eased somewhat when minor works begin early this year in what is viewed as an interim measure. A larger scale €2m application for Henchy’s Cross was rejected by the Department of Transport.
Senior executive engineer of the road design section of Clare County Council, John Gannon explained of the planned works this spring, “the project will also provide advance warning of hazards ahead such as road narrowing, hidden dip while encouraging motorists to reduce speed on the R352 on the approaches to the junction”.
Warning signs to be introduced include, ‘road narrows’, ‘junction ahead’ and ‘no overtaking’. Stop lines and slow road markings will also be painted while the centre line will be renewed for the entire length of the scheme with existing edge lining to the east of the junction repainted while new edge lining will be installed to the west of the junction at the beginning of the scheme.
Gannon confirmed that yellow hatch road markings would be added on the L8166 approach to the junction with buff coloured high friction surfacing (anti-skid) to be provided for 30m on both sides
of the junction.
On the western side of the junction between the L4104 and R352, a low (25mm) kerb with bituminous surfacing will be installed, a stone wall on the western side of the junction will be lowered and stone piers to be set back.
All vegetation growing on existing stone walls will be removed and vegetation growing on
earthen mounts to be cut down as much as possible, Gannon detailed.
Senior executive engineer in the Killaloe Municipal District, Niamh Madden stated, “As design is now substantially finalised and consultation with landowners nearing an end, we aim to carry out works in relation to this safety scheme in early 2022”.
Speaking at the final Killaloe MD meeting of 2021, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) described Henchy’s Cross as “an extremely dangerous junction” with traffic heading towards Ennis, Shannon, Caherlohan and the Mart. He recalled that €150k was received in 2020 for preliminary works which the design office used to put an application before the Department.
Officials need to view Henchy’s Cross as “the main project” in East Clare, “it has to be delivered.. it is imperative,” Cllr Hayes stressed. “I don’t think as a Council we can stand by and not let it happen. At 4pm and 5pm in the evening, people are risking their lives out there, you wouldn’t get planning for a rural house there, I don’t want to see emergency services at Henchy’s Cross and a loss of life, there has been notable accidents”.
Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe MD, Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) remarked, “it is good to see we have something on paper to see something will happen”.
Acting senior executive officer in the Killaloe MD, Morgan Lahiffe informed the meeting that Henchy’s Cross was included in their strategic plan. He said “a large scale application” in the region of €2m was put before the Department. “We all agree that Henchy’s Cross needs a long term measure to solve it. We are trying to do a low cost solution, all of these projects that involve land, land ownership and houses are intricate, road design have worked a lot on this project to try bring it to where it is, it is a slow moving project. We’re not going to promise the world here, it is a low cost short-term solution. We’re looking at spring next year, the long-term commitment is there to improve this road”. He confirmed that money allocated in 2021 would be reallocated to 2022.
Interim works were praised by Cllr Pat Burke (FG), “anything that can improve the junction is to be welcomed”. He believed funding would be the main hurdle. “The safety of the junction is more important than cycle lanes in the town of Ennis, I know they are safety measures, the Green Party influence is trying to encourage walking and cycling to work but we won’t be walking the cattle home from the Mart,” the Whitegate native quipped.
