Number of people falling over on new €5m Kildare road is 'quite low'

A safety audit did not raise issues of concern - county council

The number of trips and falls occurring on a new €5m road in Naas is quite low, according to Kildare County Council.

Local councillor Evie Sammon disputes KCC’s figure of six accidents, saying she was concerned there are more than the six reported to the local authority.

“I have a few reports of breaks and of a woman being taken away in an ambulance.”

She also told a Naas Municipal District meeting she is aware of two accidents not reported to KCC.

Cllr Evie Sammon nevertheless said that the scheme, which narrowed the Kilcullen Road to upgrade the footpaths and create cycle lanes, is a good one .

Cllr Seamie Moore said that pedestrians cannot differentiate between the road and the kerb road and “a lot of accidents are happening.” He said different colours need to be used to deal with this problem.

“It’s not working out in a safety sense,” added Cllr Moore and he said people are crossing the road in the wrong places.

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“How many more people will be injured before we do something,” asked Cllr Anne Breen.

But KCC engineer Donal Hodgins said the number of incidents is quite low for a new scheme and “doesn’t indicate a significant problem.”

He said the scheme has been the subject of safety audits and a post construction review. “Any issues raised have been reviewed with the qualified designer and KCC continues to monitor the situation,” he said.

It was funded by the National Transport Authority.

Mr Hodgins said there have been injuries and he commented that there are hazards everywhere.

He noted there are different levels for walkers, cyclists and drivers and people will have to get used to it.

He said there are consequences to segregation and pointed out there are designated crossing areas.

Mr Hodgins said he has relatives who sustained injuries by falling over and he was not belittling the issue.

“Our town centres should have priority for pedestrians,” he said, adding that KCC would look at the junction with Ballymore Road.

He believes that the problems arise here partly because the road is quite wide on the approach to Naas and if there is national guidance covering this, it will be followed.

This could mean narrowing the road as it approaches the town centre to reduce the speed of traffic approaching the Ballymore Road/Kilcullen Road Junction.

KCC has received that traffic is speeding as it approaches Swans and this will be investigated.

An independent safety audit did not give rise to any major safety concerns.

Mr Hodgins stated KCC is reviewing all feedback received from members of the public “as part of a post construction review and will implement changes if required.*” Responding to a call from Cllr Ger Dunne for reflective or coloured bollards, he said  this  is one of the options being considered (but) “any intervention will need to adhere to the  design standards and the council will need to be satisfied that they will be practical, effective and improve the overall situation whilst not creating new hazards.”

Cllr Dunne said accidents are taking place and in the event of snow the kerbs will not be visible.

Mr Hodgins told Cllr Bill Clear the option of painting the top of the kerbs along the cycle lanes is also being considered.