Dangerous road ‘doesn’t have adequate skid resistance’
A series of crashes, including a fatal collision last September, have occurred on the stretch of the N71 at a corner known as “chip van corner” on the western side of Innishannon, near Bandon.
The British Transport Research Laboratory conducted a survey of the roadway on the main route into West Cork from the city.
According to a recently published report from the group circulated to county councillors in Cork, it advised that “skid resistance on the road was not as high as would have been anticipated for a relatively new section (of tarred road)”.
Cllr Veronica Neville (FG), who lives in Bandon, said she was concerned crashes were continuing to occur on the bend. She demanded further information on what could be done to prevent any likely further injuries and material damage.
“For five months, I have been repeatedly requesting this information. It seems to me this report suggests further works have to be carried out at the site.
“This road accommodates 20,000 vehicles per day and, at peak times in summer months, double that. I have repeatedly requested accident blackspot signs be reinstated there.”
She recounted a fatal crash last year that claimed a woman’s life and “a number of near misses since with cars spinning to the other side of the road”.
Ms Neville said she wanted the current road surface “dealt with as a matter of urgency”.
Cllr Kevin Murphy (FG) claimed “the camber of the road is seriously flawed”.
“The corner is incapable of taking cars at 50km/h. Progress (on rectifying this) has been extraordinarily slow. This is a dangerous corner with no skid resistance on it. We have to get the job done quickly.”
Cllr Donal O’Rourke (FF) claimed “a tarmac provider” he knew had recently driven on the road and was so concerned that he contacted gardaí to point out to them how dangerous it was.
County manager Martin Riordan said the skid resistance problem “was within approved limits” but admitted it might not be as high as should be expected on a new road surface.
Ms Neville insisted special digital signs be erected near the bends to warn motorists if they were exceeding what might be a safe speed limit.
Meanwhile, Mr Murphy said it was time the National Roads Authority “stopped dragging their feet” and did something about the surface. Mr Riordan said he would ask council engineers to provide a full report on the matter to the council’s local roads committee this Friday.
