Rebuilt road doesn’t appear to be fit for purpose

WHO is responsible for our roads?

The National Roads Authority, have “overall responsibility for planning and supervision of construction and maintenance works on these roads” according to its mission statement.

If they alone have the responsibility, then, no more than the HSE, they are “unfit for purpose”.

Recently, a stretch (about half-mile) of the N71 has been rebuilt (literally, from foundation) near Rosscarbery and, within weeks of its opening, we have had a fatal accident. Before the rebuild, this was a bad stretch and has been the scene of a number of accidents.

The main problem at the accident site is the camber, and the problem has been exacerbated by the rebuild. As one drives west, there is a left-hand bend with a right junction; the inside of this bend is raised at a vital point creating a contra-camber.

A driver has to fight to keep the car inside the centre line.

This, a new road, newly engineered, is of such standard that, coming from the east, there are three slow markings on the road — obviously recognised in the building as inadequate.

Dressing over old design faults is bad, but building new roads with design faults is unforgivable.

Is it a coincidence that the other recent fatal accident on the N71 happened on another rebuilt stretch which involves a similar west-to-east right bend with a left-hand junction?

Cal Hyland

Rosscarbery

Cork