Speeding cyclists have prompted the call for traffic calming strips in Cratloe.
An examination of the lower section of Gallows Hill Rd adjacent to Walsh’s Cross in Cratloe is to be carried out to determine what measures “might be appropriate to calm traffic”. Senior executive engineer Aidan O’Rourke made the comments at the September meeting of the Shannon Municipal District in response to a request from Cllr PJ Ryan (IND).
Ryan outlined that “there has been a couple of accidents there and there needs to be some sort of traffic measures”. Having received “numerous representations” in relation to the stretch of road, Cllr Ryan flagged that locals are concerned with the speed cyclists are travelling at. “A particular lady told me that two bicycles overtook here coming down Gallows Hill. People travelling on bikes told me they could achieve speeds over 40km/hr plus”.
A member of the County Council since 2004, Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) in seconding the motion revealed “It was a first for me that I was asked to bring it up and asked to come with measures to to reduce cyclists speed”. Crowe added, “You couldn’t make it up”.
He recalled that 1987 Tour de France winner Stephen Roche and Sean Kelly who won the Vuelta a España in 1988 had used the ascent and descent of Gallows Hill to try “get an advantage off it”.
