Department go-slow on road speed increase
Several angry county councillors who sought an emergency motion to overturn the new Department of the Environment ruling were yesterday told that the protocols involved could take months to finalise.
Two days after the €300 million Fermoy bypass was opened the speed on the former main road was lowered, because it was no longer classified as a national primary route.
However, councillors can overrule this, but assistant county manager, Tim Lucey, told them that it would take quite a bit of time.
Cllr Aileen Pyne (FG) told a meeting in Mallow that people were being penalised for avoiding the toll on the new bypass (M8) and she wanted the speed limit raised again on the as soon as possible on the N8.
“This is absolutely crazy, the signs were changed overnight. It’s a good, wide road. There are byroads off it where two cars can’t pass and yet they have the same limit of 80km/h. It’s ridiculous,” FF’s Cllr Frank O’Flynn said.
Mr Lucey said that the limit couldn’t be changed back to 100km/h overnight, despite claims from Cllr Sean Sherlock (Lab) that previous engineering reports must have shown it was suitable for such speeds.
“There will be an assessment of the road to see what sections can be increased. The assessment will be undertaken by our own engineers in consultation with the gardaí. It will then go to public consultation,” Mr Lucey said.
After that it will have to go back to a council area committee for further discussion before a recommendation can be put to the full council. Mr Lucey added that there was no question of an emergency change being made.
Cllr Kevin O’Keeffe (FF) also demanded to know why a section of the N8 from Moorepark into Fermoy had been lowered to just 60km per hour.
Fine Gael’s Cllr Liam O’Doherty said residents in Rathcormac and Watergrasshill were quite happy with the reduced speed limit.
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