Action urged to reduce speed along accident blackspot

Three accidents over recent months on a notorious stretch of city roadway are clear warning signs that more safety measures to be put in place, according to local representatives.

A section of the Grattan Road in the Claddagh area – close to the Mutton Island causeway – has once again been the scene of a number of accidents with walls knocked after vehicles went out of control.

Local residents have told the Galway City Tribune that the Grattan Road area has historically been the scene of a number of road fatalities – and warned that more could follow – unless safety measures are put in place.

Resident Jimmy Coffey, said that local people and the Residents’ Association, were extremely concerned at the spate of accidents occurring close to the bend in the road adjacent to the Mutton Island causeway.

“It really has been the luck of God that people haven’t been seriously injured or killed in the latest run of accidents. If pedestrians happened to be in the area at the time, then we’d be talking about another tragedy,” said Mr Coffey.

He said that the core problem along the Grattan Road was the speed at which vehicles were travelling and he also called for an examination of the causeway junctions where five roads were coming together.

“This section of roadway, sadly does not have a good record going back the years, as regards fatal accidents. What we want to ensure now is that measures are put in place to make Grattan Road a safer place for everyone,” said Jimmy Coffey.

Local councillor, Niall McNelis, told the Galway City Tribune, that there was an acceptance at all levels of the need to improve road safety along the Grattan Road.

“Early in the New Year, Grattan Road is to be designated a 30kph zone and this is a speed limit that we’ll all want to see strictly enforced.

“This is essentially a speed problem and designating Grattan Road as a 30kph city speed zone is a very important step forward.

“We will also be trying to get radar speed sign displays along the route which have been proven to help in slowing down motorists.

“The recent accidents along this stretch of roadway have been very worrying and thankfully there was no serious injury or loss of life, but from now on all traffic will have to slow down along this route. It has to be a top priority for all of us,” said Cllr. McNelis.

Grattan Road is one of the most notorious sections of road in the city for fatal accidents – back in December 1998, a young man and woman lost their lives, after the car in which they were travelling, crashed into a concrete seat in the area.