Residents in Knockdoe on the busy N17 are unhappy at the delay in changing traffic calming measures there.
They say fixtures are erected in the middle and at the side of the road over two years ago are dangerous for drivers and damaging for businesses in the area.
Apart from complaints from residents about difficulty turning into the shops and business premises at Knockdoe since the bollards and other fixtures were put into place, other motorists are having problems.
In particular, truck and lorry drivers say it is difficult for them to turn off into the side road leading to Geraghty’s joinery works, and to the parking areas at the Daybreak Supermarket and Lydon’s pub and lounge.
Several residents are dismayed that while there was an allocation of €375,000 in the Council’s 2015 Roads Programme for road improvement and safety works in Claregalway, nothing has been earmarked for Knockdoe.
“We have no issue with money being allocated for works in Claregalway village, but it is disappointing that after various politicians campaigned for changes to what we regard as dangerous traffic calming measures in our areas, no funding has been announced for that work”, said one resident of Slievefin village, which is just off the N17 at Knockdoe.
“It is difficult for delivery people coming to us, and possibly worse for vehicles trying to get into Lydon’s Pub and the Daybreak supermarket.
“Also, many motorists coming out of the Slievefin road have been experiencing problems getting out onto the N17 due to timber rails erected on the corner during the time the road changes made.
“They now have to edge their car out into the busy road, as their vision is obscured by the timber fence, while the bus stop is also in the wrong place and can create problems for other road users, when buses pull in there,” he added.
Meanwhile, one elderly woman why lives a few miles down the N17 on the Tuam side says even though she has been shopping for years at the Daybreak Shop in Knockdoe says she now finds it “almost impossible” to know where the break in the path is to drive her car into the car park beside the supermarket.
“There should be arrows on the road, as there are in Claregalway village, to show where the vehicle entrance is to the Knockdoe shops.
“If I have difficulty finding it and I am living locally, what it is like for passing motorists from outside the area who want to go into the shop or pub, they must be hitting the footpaths half the time”, she added.
Eugene Geraghty said that some of the bollards in the middle of the road have been damaged by vehicles.
“It is more dangerous on wet dark nights when drivers have greater difficulty seeing where the bollards and the traffic islands start.”
He says the traffic calming measures have helped slow down traffic but finds they need immediate tweaking.
Meanwhile Cllr Jim Cuddy, who has sought funds for changes to the Knockdoe fixtures, says the County Council has allocated €290,000 for Claregalway village resurfacing, drainage and footpaths and a further €85,000 has been allocated for the Loughgeorge junction for safety improvements and to address constant flooding outside private houses in the area.
“Improvement works are also to be carried out in Claregalway village at the entrance to the Claregalway Hotel and I have requested that the County Council also carry out improvement works at the entrance to the Lakeview Estate, opposite Hughes SuperValu.
“I have also asked that a pedestrian crossing be installed between the two bus stops in Claregalway village, where there are serious concerns. It makes sense to install this as part of the road works which will start this year.”
