Most dangerous junctions

luckat

Can we make a definitive list of the most dangerous junctions in Ireland and the solutions? I'll make a start - Dublin junctions, because I'm a Dub; others will be able to talk about other areas.

The Dublin Airport exit and the roundabouts surrounding it. The problem here, I think, is just very bad signposting, and the solution would be to have the correct lanes indicated on the road surface, continuously until people are on the road they want.

Dundrum and the exits to get to Sandyford, Enniskerry, etc. Again, very bad signposting. Just better signs would solve this, I think - when you follow the first signpost going out of Dublin to go to Enniskerry, you come to a roundabout with no sign indicating which way Enniskerry is...!

Right turn to Kilmainham from the Lucan road into town. This really needs an overpass - it's hideously dangerous. Until an overpass is built, an extra set of lights about 50 metres back from the right-hand loop to get on to the correct road would help, as would proper signage and road markings.

There's a turn on to the M50 from Clondalkin which I take occasionally - I can'ty identify it, but it astonishes me every time I hit it, because there's a sign indicating "M50", then nothing until you're *halfway up the feeder road* onto the M50, when you see a sign, cunningly concealed by greenery. Not sure if this is still there, but I expect it is.

Fey!

GALWAY

Magic Roundabout on the Headford Road (the light-controlled one); exit out of the shopping centre has no lights, people constantly go in the left lane to turn right, general mayhem.

Loughgeorge Junction (Roscommon Road coming onto the Tuam Road on the Tuam side of Claregalway); locals use the crosshatch as a merge lane, as it's safer then going from a standing stop into 100kmph traffic!

Shantalla Road onto Seamus Quirke Road; cars blocking the crosshatch, but worse is when people stop for the lights and everyone does everything right, the crosshatch is clear, and some guy on a bike flys down the outside of the line of traffic where you can't see him until your nose is sticking out because of the truck that's first in the queue at the crosshatch! WTF? Pure luck has saved several bikers there.

Squirrel

Dublin: The junction by the Grange Golf Club, going towards Taylor's Lane turning right to head to Whitechurch. Move to the middle of the junction and then a car coming down Taylor's Lane waiting to turn right back towards Rathfarnham moves up so he's directly along side you (as in your drivers window is right by his drivers window) forcing you to have to go up and have a swing to kinda come back on yourself to make your right turn. What is the mentality of these drivers? They should stay further back so they can cross in front of you, and you in front of them when the gap comes.

smash

Walkinstown Roundabout.... not even road markings on it and there's about 6 roads onto it....

unkel

Dublin:

N4/M50 roundabout, but that is to be replaced with a fully free flow junction. The first one in Ireland and no other one is in the planning iirc :rolleyes:

steve06 wrote:

Walkinstown Roundabout.... not even road markings on it and there's about 6 roads onto it....

<wicked>I actually like that one :cool: </wicked>

Seth Brundle

unkel wrote:

Dublin:

N4/M50 roundabout, but that is to be replaced with a fully free flow junction. The first one in Ireland and no other one is in the planning iirc :rolleyes:

Isn't the M50/N7 interchange going free flow also?

mike65

Whoa there! This is perfect Commuting/Transport forum material, so I'll copy this over but keep a copy here.

Here's a fine example of 'the subtly dangerous' junction it looks benign enough until you actually have to use it. The road is a two+one section on the N24 and as you can see there is feck all run-off area for the turn left while the road width dissapears on the right side as the barrier closes in.

This road was redesigned only a matter of months ago and they finished the work just a few weeks back and no-one said "wait!" thats too narrow for safety, which it is when you have a truck doing a 100 up your arse as you slow to turn.



Mike.

jd

N25- Ashfield Cross (Junction to Rosslare Strand)
N11- Scarawalsh (Junction with N80)

What are the junctions between Arklow and Rathnew?-loads of bad accidents there.

(edit corrected brainfart)

mike65

Ashfield Cross to Rosslare Strand is on N25 no?

Mike.

jd

mike65 wrote:

Ashfield Cross to Rosslare Strand is on N25 no?

Mike.

yip of course..

mike65

I pass it every week, I have to say I've never used it from the Strand but on the face of it, it should be straightfoward to use. The visibility should be okay esp from the the left hand side. But I know several major crashes have happened there.

Mike.

Victor

mike65 wrote:

Whoa there! This is perfect Commuting/Transport forum material, so I'll copy this over but keep a copy here.

Here's a fine example of 'the subtly dangerous' junction it looks benign enough until you actually have to use it. The road is a two+one section on the N24 and as you can see there is feck all run-off area for the turn left while the road width dissapears on the right side as the barrier closes in.

This road was redesigned only a matter of months ago and they finished the work just a few weeks back and no-one said "wait!" thats too narrow for safety, which it is when you have a truck doing a 100 up your arse as you slow to turn.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/mike65/Dsc00995-1.jpg

Hey! Easy on the image size!

2+1 roads aren't meant to have right turns like that. If it has to be at grade the idea is that all crossing traffic crosses perpendicular to the main flow, by having turning loops.

westtip

luckat wrote:

Can we make a definitive list of the most dangerous junctions in Ireland and the solutions? I'll make a start - Dublin junctions, because I'm a Dub; others will be able to talk about other areas.

Wow, where do you want us to start!!!

Any junction on to the N59 from Ballina to Dromore West on the Mayo/Sligo border. The road is lethal enough as it is with lots of blind summits and lots of promises from the politicians up here to do something about it. If you are in this neck of the woods please be very careful on this stretch of road in particular around the Corballa area. Several smashes a year prove the point.

Solution: upgrade the N59 Ballina/Sligo road to a proper national road standard of wide single carriage with hard shoulder or 2+1, it is a nightmare of a road and claims lives every year. Liklihood to happen: NIL

road_high

Kilkenny-New Ross road R700-N30 is v dangerous as you cross over the bridge and onto the N30.
New Ross again, the two junctions at either end of the relief road thingy i.e.where it meets the N25 and R700, a couple of roundabouts wouldn't go astray on these junctions.

Durrow, coming onto the N8 from the Kilkenny side is always an experience.

nordydan

I agree that N59 upgrades are well down the list, after the N15 DC to Bundoran (which will start in 2-3 years), N17 realignment to Charlestown, N$ upgrade and N16 realignment. I would suspect about 20 years.

-A1 junctions on the newry bypass are very dangerous.
-A junction on the N13 between Letterkenny and Stranorlar is bad.
-The N52 junctions in Kells are shocking.
-Junctions between R756 wicklow gap and N81 are dire, as are a lot of roads in West Wicklow.

JaysusMacfeck

The N11/M50 roundabout at Loughlinstown.

westtip

mike65 wrote:

Here's a fine example of 'the subtly dangerous' junction it looks benign enough until you actually have to use it. The road is a two+one section on the N24 and as you can see there is feck all run-off area for the turn left while the road width dissapears on the right side as the barrier closes in.



Mike.

Mike it looks an absolute nightmare, the problem is we can all find such deathtraps all over the country, it amazes me the death toll, horendous though it is, isn't even higher.

jd

JaysusMacfeck wrote:

The N11/M50 roundabout at Loughlinstown.

I wouldn't say it is dangerous, just annoying..

Danno

mfitzy wrote:

Durrow, coming onto the N8 from the Kilkenny side is always an experience.

Huh? That has got to be one of the safest junctions IMHO! It's in the centre of the town, has a free-flow merger lane for N8 southbound onto N77 traffic, a left and right split lane on the N77 onto N8 bound traffic. N8 Northbound onto N77 usually use the back street, if not there is a middle median right turn opposite the bank. There are large greens giving over 50m views of oncoming traffic from BOTH directions!!! LOL! If anyone crashes at this junction then whoever gave them the keys to their vehicle should be shot!!!

Further out the N8 at the Nore Bridge is very dangerous though, and again further on with two junctions for Ballinakill.

road_high

Danno wrote:

Huh? That has got to be one of the safest junctions IMHO! It's in the centre of the town, has a free-flow merger lane for N8 southbound onto N77 traffic, a left and right split lane on the N77 onto N8 bound traffic. N8 Northbound onto N77 usually use the back street, if not there is a middle median right turn opposite the bank. There are large greens giving over 50m views of oncoming traffic from BOTH directions!!! LOL! If anyone crashes at this junction then whoever gave them the keys to their vehicle should be shot!!!

Further out the N8 at the Nore Bridge is very dangerous though, and again further on with two junctions for Ballinakill.

No I meant it's feckin really hard to get out onto the N8 from here, you need to look both directions at the same time!
It's quicker and easier go down to Phelan's corner and come out there instead.

Danno

Roundabout coming soon to the area where the esso closed (for the purpose)

road_high

Danno wrote:

Roundabout coming soon to the area where the esso closed (for the purpose)

At the Ballacolla turn-off you mean?I dunno why they're bothering now at this stage, sure it's going to be bypassed in a few years.
Wonder will Kilkenny traffic still have to go through the town.They should build a link road from the KK side of Durrow to join up with the motorway.