Councillors raise issue of 'sub-standard' junctions along Clare motorway

Councillors at July's Clare County Council called for the improvement of a number of junctions along the M18 motorway in Clare.

Cllr Pat Hayes said he had received numerous complaints about unsafe and "substandard" junctions along the motorway, in particular at Tulla and Barefield.

Though not his constituency, Cllr Hayes said he had received complaints from people about the junctions and pull-off points, particularly when approaching Ennis from the Crusheen/West Clare direction.

"Increasingly every time I pass these junctions, when you are pulling off in Barefield, or going off on Tulla, they are not meting the  standards that are required. If you are going off on the Barefield junction, two to three cars is all you can go on to a fast moving lane."

He called on the council to raise the matter with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

"The last time I asked about this particular issue there was a national review coming from TII in relation to junctions, but people expect us as a local authority to be taking on the role here," he said. "The risk is here, we don't really want to have a tragedy or an accident on those junctions."

CEO Pat Doyle responded to Cllr Hayes, saying that he was conscious of the gravity of the situation, and that the council had in the past, and would again raise the issue with TII "at a senior level".

"We will fulfil our advocacy role on behalf of the members, and of the citizens of the county, to keep raising the issue at a senior level," he stated.