No hurry to upgrade fatal crash stretch

Date Published: 17-Dec-2009

THERE is no urgency on the part of the department of Transport to provide money for the upgrading of a stretch of the N17 where four students lost their lives recently.

Hopes that a major realignment programme at Carrownurlaur – between Milltown and Ballindine – have been dashed in the short term.

The matter was raised in the Dail and there was disappointment locally when it emerged that no funding will be made available for improvement works to be carried out.

Students Marie Ni Chonghaile and Teresa Molloy died alongside college friends Sarah Byrne and Sorcha Rose McLoughlin after their car collided with a pick-up truck at the notorious accident blackspot.

The driver of the car, fellow student Michelle O’Donnell from Inis Móir, was left fighting for her life and is still recovering in hospital from her injuries.

It is understood that the National Roads Authority is reluctant to spend money on a road which will eventually be reduced to county road status as there are plans to extend the motorway from Tuam to Claremorris.

Galway East TD Ulick Burke raised the matter in the Dail and said that there was a need for the immediate and urgent repair and realignment works on the N17 following this tragic accident.

He said that lives should take precedence over funding and he called on the Minister for Transport to treat this stretch of road as a priority.

Shortly after motorists leave Ballindine heading towards Tuam, the N17 narrows considerably while there is a severe right hand bend at Carrownurlaur – where the tragic accident occurred.

The condition of the road improves again the far side of Milltown but it is the four mile stretch between there and Ballindine which has been the location of many serious accidents over the years.

Deputy Burke said that the situation has been highlighted by Galway County Council to the Department but this claim has been rejected by the Minister for Transport.

According to Cllr. Sean Canney, investigations are being carried out on the road between Milltown and Ballindine to determine why

so many accidents are occurring along this stretch.

“It needs a major realignment programme which would not cost the earth. But I get the impression that the NRA don’t want to spend money on this road when there are plans to provide a new dual carriageway between Tuam and Claremorris”, Cllr. Canney added.