Vehicle-activated signs to be installed at Balreask to slow down traffic

Plans for traffic calming measures at the junction of the Borallion and Trim Road in Navan were outlined at last week's meeting of Navan Municipal Council .

The council is proposing to install vehicle activated signs warning motorists to “slow down” and “junction ahead”.

Councillors received a presentation about safety issues at the junction and were told a traffic survey showed the average speed at the junction was 59 km/hour.

In the period 2014 to 2017, there had been nine accidents at the junction, three of which resulted in minor injuries.

They were told the traffic calming measures could be carried out quickly, but medium to long term solutions would be part of the design of the new road which would link the Trim Road to the motorway access road and could include a ban on HGVs on the Borallion.

Solutions would also be included as part of further active travel measures.

Cllr Tommy Reilly said the traffic calming measures would do nothing to improve safety.

“Its a waste of money,” he said.

“What is needed there is for the junction to be staggered. This proposal isn't worth the paper it is written on.

“We've been 20 years at this. People have been killed,” he said.

Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons said that a ban on HGVs would just move the problem somewhere else.

Cllr Emer Toibin said that negotiating the junction at the moment was on a nod and a wink basis.

“It is really, really dangerous and I'd say there are hundreds of near misses there every month,”

Cllr Yemi Adenuga said she personally had two near misses there recently.

“The problems will get worse because more people will be living in the area.”

Cllr Eddie Fennessy said safety at the Borallion Junction was an issue that had been raised by numerous councillors over the years.

“Realignment of the junction should have been linked to planning and funding applications for the new link road on the Borallion. It's an opportunity lost and one which will delay the works required to improve the safety of motorists and pedestrians.”

He said while he was concerned that the proposed measures don't go far enough, he was pleased to see progress in terms of addressing the safety concerns of locals in the short term.

Director of Services, Martin Murray said the proposals put forward were solutions that could be implemented quickly.

Cllr Alan Lawes asked if they could look at other short term measures that could also be included.