Public Urged To Engage With Larkins Cross Roadworks Project

It's hoped changes to the Larkins Cross junction on the N25 will make the road safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland is looking to introduce traffic calming measures similar to ones seen in nearby Barntown and Carrolls Cross in Waterford.

This includes the installation of islands, reducing the lanes to 3.25 metres, off-road one-way cycle/pedestrian facilities, new lighting, and the widening of the Taghmon junction.

Councillor Garry Laffan says this is a positive move and he's in favour of it:

"Since I've been elected, a lot of the residents in the area have contacted me about it.

"Look I suppose it's something that's been ongoing for a long time and there was difficulties because it's a TII proposal and a national route so Wexford County Council had to go a little bit higher with regards to seeking funding and permission for this."

A roundabout will not be included in the new junction layout despite calls for one in the past.

At the July meeting of the Wexford Borough District, councillors heard a roundabout would be more costly, take up more time and just pushes the problems down the road.

Councillor Laffan says they have to take the words of the officials at face value on this.

"I've sat down with the engineer and went through all the options a number of months ago and she explained all the different areas of the junction and why there's different 'hard engineering' works to stop crossing on the road.

"The whole thing is just to slow traffic down coming into the junction and stop accidents happening because of the junction."

Meanwhile, the speed limit won't be lowered as part of the measures to make the junction safer.

Engineers have told Wexford County Council the limit should remain at 100 kilometres per hour despite numerous serious crashes in the area.

Phil Skelton from the Wexford Bike Users Group says dropping the limit should possibly be trialed first before the road gets torn up:

"I've had a few near misses there including with some trucks so I think something like a trial of the 60kmph speed limit might have worked.

"While that trial is on, get a Gatso van there to monitor the speed of the people going through there and just see if that worked for a starter."

Cyclists in particular are being urged to have their say of the proposals which include a specific cycle lane but does have facilities which will be shared with pedestrians.

Mr Skelton says his members won't be too impressed with the measures as they stand:

"Instead of just having segregated cycle lanes and walking paths, it has what's known as a 'shared use active travel facility'.

"So cyclists and walkers would have to share the same space which isn't ideal for either party.

"This is something that us in WexBUG would be against if I'm honest."

That report was funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.