Call for Review of ‘Dangerous’ Junction at Raffeen Bridge

Writes Leo McMahon

A review of the Raffeen Bridge junction, where cars have to emerge from the R610 on to the busy N28 Ringaskiddy national road with a 100 kilometres per hour limit, was urged by Cllr Eoghan Fahy (SF) and fully supported at the recent meeting of the county council’s Carrigaline Municipal District (MD).

     He specifically asked that space be created for two lanes to enter the N28, to cater for vehicles going left towards Shanbally and right towards Shannon Park roundabout.  There is one lane at present. Safety at the junction badly needed reviewing, especially for drivers trying to turn right on to the main highway, he stated.

Seconding, Cllr Una McCarthy (FG) said she used the junction daily and turning right was particularly dangerous.  Allowing only one lane from the R610 resulted in cars trying to go left to squeeze in.  She asked that consideration be given to reverting to the previous lay-out of two lanes thereby reducing the line of traffic on the lesser road.

Raffeen Bridge junction which is difficult for drivers attempting to turn right emerging from the R610 to the main N28 which has a 100 kilometres per hour limit - photo Leo McMahon

Cllr Patrick Donovan (FF) also supported the motion. It was a very busy and dangerous junction and recalled previous efforts by former Cllrs Seamus McGrath (FF) and Marcia D’Alton (Ind) to get the speed limit on the N28 at the junction reduced to 80kph.

Acting senior executive engineer Alan Cogan responded: ‘Works were undertaken at this junction in 2018/2019 to improve safety. These included provision of high friction surfacing, central bollards and narrowing the regional road at its intersection with the N28.

‘These works were specifically introduced on foot of complaints received from both members and the public and the effects have been positive. There are no plans to increase widths at this junction’, he added.

The whole idea of the works a few years ago were to tighten up the junction and only allow one car come out and thereby not create a blind spot as used to happen for example at Ballinrea Cross, Carrigaline.  He pointed out that the accident rate there had reduced since it was adjusted and felt it was the safest option ahead of the new and parallel M28 being completed in about three years’ time when the situation should improve.

He agreed with the MD’s call to reduce the 100kph limit and undertook to talk to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

Cllr Fahy argued there was ample room for a left lane that could be blended into the hard shoulder and main road going towards Shanbally, thereby improving vision for emerging vehicles.  Cllr McCarthy concurred, saying it would also reduce the queue on the R610.  Mr Cogan said he would come back to members after contacting TII.

Cllr Donovan repeated the call for a pedestrian crossing at Shanbally and a response from TII.  The engineer undertook to correspond with that body.

In her report, MD officer Denise Kidney confirmed that the €3.8million Ringaskiddy Active Travel and Urban Realm Scheme extending for 1.7 kilometres as far as Gobby Beach, was completed and officially opened on September 3^rd. It included new segregated footpaths and cycleways, enhanced crossings, lighting, community spaces and landscaping. The contractor was Coffey Construction.

In reply to Cllr Audrey Buckley (FF), senior executive officer Maurice Murphy said the suggested short term licence put to the council by the landowner Industrial Development Authority (IDA) for Luck Beach, Loughbeg, Ringaskiddy for last summer was absolutely unworkable.  He was putting together a proposal for a more permanent arrangement.

Congratulations

On a proposal by Cllr Jack White (FG), the MD passed votes of congratulations to David Howard, Currabinny on being part of the Irish Men's Golf team that won bronze at the European Mid-Amateur Championships; to Clodagh Coughlan of Douglas Golf Club on being part of the Irish Ladies Golf team that won bronze at the same event; to the Men's and Ladies’ Senior Cup teams from Douglas Golf Club on winning the respective All Ireland Senior Cups recently and to Monkstown Golf Club's Men's Junior Cup team on winning the All Ireland Junior Cup.