A Bagenalstown councillor is calling on the NRA to revamp a dangerous junction on a main local artery, irrespective of the road’s future.
Fianna Fáil councillor David O’Brien raised concerns about safety at the junction on the N9 road between Carlow and Kilkenny at the Royal Oak, Muinebheag.
Cllr O’Brien called on the NRA to move the junction to a flatter location in an effort to make it safer for motorists trying to exit onto the N9 from the Royal Oak Road.
With the current layout motorists have to stop on a steep section of road before trying to exit onto a busy road carrying traffic between Carlow and Kilkenny/Waterford and Cllr O’Brien described it as an accident waiting to happen.
Council roads engineer Liam Fitzgerald acknowledged it was a dangerous junction, particularly for cars attempting to turn right coming out of the Royal Oak Road onto the N9.
“We can make a case to the NRA but realistically, what they are going to say is that it will not be a road in 2011 when the motorway opens,” he said.
With the main N9/N10 Dublin to Waterford motorway currently under construction and due to open in 2010, the current Carlow to Kilkenny road will be downgraded from a national road.
But Cllr O’Brien dismissed this response and said safety on the road remained paramount.
“The motorway is not going to make as much difference as people think it will,” he said.
“There is still going to be a lot of traffic on that road coming from Paulstown and trucks from Rosslare. Those answers are garbage.
“I know what the NRA are going to say and I have answers to all of them,” Cllr O’Brien said.
