Road safety audit for Nenagh

A road safety audit was to be carried out in Nenagh this week as people continue to get used to the town's new one-way traffic system.

Last week's meeting of Nenagh Municipal District heard that while reaction has been generally positive, a number of problems have been reported since the new system went into operation last month.

Cllr Séamie Morris said people living on Sarsfield St have experienced difficulty with the volume of traffic now moving up that street. He wondered if a pedestrian crossing could be considered further up the street.

Cllr Joe Hannigan wondered if any consideration had been given to installing another pedestrian crossing at Kenyon St. People would benefit from a crossing further down the street, he reasoned.

Cllr Ger Darcy said people who are in the town regularly have expressed concern to him over the close proximity of pedestrian crossings to one another in the town centre.

District Director Liam Brett said time is still needed to allow the new system to “bed-in”. The suggestions made would certainly be looked at and the council could make modifications accordingly, he said.

Executive Engineer Paul Keane said a pedestrian crossing on Sarsfield St would result in a loss of parking spaces, though it would be considered. The council is monitoring the situation at Kenyon St. A road safety audit would be carried out this week and the council would be guided by its findings, Mr Keane said.

The meeting was also informed that 'splitter islands' are in place on sections of the system. Planters will be installed at these islands to enhance the streetscape.

Meanwhile, the council is continuing to engage with the National Transport Authority on the development of a transport hub and the proposed relocation of the bus stops to Nenagh Railway Station.