New plan to turn a lethal junction at Dundalk - Castleblayney into a safe one has passed
PLANS to make a dangerous crossroads on the main Dundalk-Castleblayney road have been given the go-ahead by Louth County Councillors.
The Court Road – Tankardsrock Road junction on the Castleblaney road has been described as "one of the most dangerous in the country".
The plan passed by the council was the safest plan available as it facilitated heavy vehicles turning at the Court Road-Tankardsrock Road junction.
It includes right-turn lanes, bus bays and public lighting.
The work will be funded by the National Roads Authority (NRA).
Some residents have opposed to the change. County Manager Conn Murray said the main concern was road safety.
The go-ahead had been dealayed until alternatives proposals put forward by an engineer representing the family had been studied and because Cllrs were not happy with the proposals put before them.
Cllr Peter Savage had said this junction was the deadliest in the north east. But he wanted a decision put on hold and the other options for the development studied in more detail.
He pointed out that an agreement reached with the landowners would be preferable to the introduction of a compulsory purchase order which could take up to two years.
Cllr Terry Brennan had said the current plan affects three of the families living in the area and he was led to believe that the NRA will not support the other designs submitted.
Cllr Jim Loughran said the design put forward by the council engineers would "cut families in half" and the council should consider more seriously a proposal put forward by the family.
Cllr Declan Breathnach had said this stretch of road was a death trap. He said somebody would be inconvenienced no matter what road design was adopted, but he was satisified that every effort had been made to accommodate as many people as possible.
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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