Motorists in the Scramogue Cross and Frenchpark areas of County Roscommon are taking their lives in their hands on a daily basis as they try to negotiate traffic death traps- that’s according to Fianna Fáil TD for Roscommon/Galway Eugene Murphy. Deputy Murphy raised the urgent need to upgrade the N5 with the Minister for Transport Shane Ross under the Topical Issues section of Dáil business this week.
“Numerous accidents have occurred along this stretch of road from Tarmonbarry to Ballaghaderreen. The population in the village of Tarmonbarry has grown hugely in recent years and the volume of traffic going through the village on a daily basis is quite significant. Lorries and cars are going at high speed through the village and it is posing a danger to pedestrians and cyclists and other road users.
“I have continuously highlighted the ongoing problems near my own native Scramogue Cross as this area is really a death trap which needs urgent attention. Numerous motorists and constituents in the Scramogue area have contacted me in relation to the ongoing issues at Scramogue on the main N5- this is a national primary route where there is a staggered type crossroads in operation. It is not an exaggeration to say that many people are scared to death going through Scramogue Cross as it is such a death trap,” said Deputy Murphy.
The Fianna Fáil TD also pointed out that there are also major visibility problems in the village of Frenchpark where motorists take their lives into their hands on a daily basis trying to negotiate the dangerous junction on the main N5 while there are also accident blackspots near Tulsk along the N5.
“I have previously called on the Taoiseach Enda Kenny to include the upgrading of the N4 between Mullingar and Longford and the N5 between Scramogue and Ballaghaderreen in the capital programme for 2017 as they are vital infrastructural links to the west. It is vital to upgrades these routes as they have been severely neglected and apart from Galway there is no motorway for most of the west or north-west where there is in excess of 500,000 people. I am calling for a clear commitment that the N4 and N5 will be included in the capital programme for 2017,” said Deputy Murphy.
“In his response Minister Shane Ross said that the TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) had carried out a collision cluster analysis on the most recent three years of Garda Siochana collision data and had identified four sites on the N5 in County Roscommon for further examination which included two sites east of Tulsk and two east of Frenchpark. Minister Ross said that Roscommon County Council would examine these sites over the coming months with a view to identifying if engineering solutions could improve road safety which is positive news,” said Deputy Murphy.
“In relation to Scramogue Cross, Minister Ross said that this area had not been identified as a collision cluster which I would dispute but the Minister did say that Roscommon County Council may have more up to date data which may warrant road safety improvements so I aim to raise this matter with the Local Authority and Gardai as the county council would need to carry out a collision history of Scramogue Cross and then prepare costings, feasibility study etc for road safety improvements at this location,” concluded Deputy Murphy.
