Drivers urged to report skids at notorious bend in road
Cork County Council is to install sensors on the approaches to the bend near Innishannon, on the N71 between Cork and Bandon, which will warn motorists to slow down if they are exceeding the advised 50km/h limit.
The move follows one fatal accident in the area and what was describedas “a number of near misses”.
Such concern was raised that the camber, or surface, of the road was not up to scratch and the authorities requested officials from Britain’s Transport Research Laboratory to examine it.
While they continue to monitor skids, their initial report said the skid resistance of the road “was within limits but that long-term durability might not be realised”.
In the interim, the council is to start work next week putting in safetymeasures on the approaches to what is known locallyas “Chip Van Corner”, which accommodates 15,000 vehicles on a daily basis.
The council will also install chevron warning signs and prohibit parking on the hard shoulder on both sides of the road in the vicinity of a public lay-by.
Officials said the urgency to stop parking in the area had abated as the fast food outlet, once an attraction to passing motorists, had recently ceased operations.
Cllr Veronica Neville (FG) suggested many motorists were not reporting skids at the location to the gardaí and urged them to do so.
She said a woman recently reported doing less than 50km/h and ended up spinning 360 degrees.
“A number of people have had near misses, usually travelling from the Cork side into it. Many are not reporting those to the gardaí. This corner continues to be a major concern to us. I’m aware of four incidents recently,” she said.
Cllr Kevin Murphy (FG) described it as “one of the most notorious corners we have”.
“I’m not happy with this. The report said the skid resistance was low. One of changes we propose is to put a different surface on.”
Cllr Alan Coleman (FF) said councillors had expected a high-quality camber when the road surface was upgraded in recent years.
“Its skid resistance is only within limits and it won’t last. It’s not high-speed drivers just getting into trouble, those who driving at moderate speeds are too,” he said.
County manager Martin Riordan said he thought the safety measures would work. However, he admitted that the section was subject to continuing skid testing and he would “keep it on the agenda with the NRA”.
