Transport agency snubs County Council
Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has turned down an invite to meet with members of Cork County Council to discuss speed limits at a notoriously dangerous junction.
The Council Executive had previously agreed to write to TII following major concerns voiced by elected members regarding speed limits at Raffeen Cross near Carrigaline.
In response to the letter, TII Senior Regulatory and Administration Executive Andrew Moore said the organisation did not have enough staff to visit individual municipal districts.
He also said that any issues relating to speed limits or road safety should be directed in the first instance to the Roads and Transportation Department of Cork County Council.
The letter sparked confusion at Monday’s meeting of Cork County Council with elected members asking for clarification as to who actually makes decisions on speed limits on national roads.
Carrigaline Independent Cllr Marcia D’Alton, who previously described the Raffeen Junction as being “exceedingly dangerous”, said the initial letter was sent to TII in an effort to engage with them and to understand why they have not acted upon urgent recommendations to lower speed limits at the intersection which joins the N28 with the R610.
“It seems to me from their correspondence that the decisions on whether speed limits are adopted or not on national roads are to be directed to our local county council,” said Ms D’Alton.
She added: “When we request speed limit changes on national roads and they are refused, who takes that decision? Is that the local county council national roads design office, or is it TII in Dublin?"
Last month, elected members reluctantly passed a series of speed limit changes following a review by TII. The changes did not address elected members’ recommendations regarding Raffeen Junction.
Fellow Carrigaline Cllr Seamus McGrath (FF) described TII’s refusal to attend a development committee in Cork as “extremely disappointing”.
He said: “It's quite outrageous that TII do not see fit to accept a request from us that somebody would attend. This isn't a request we make too often.”