Military Road closures

P_1

Following a recent discovery, the Military Road was closed today between the Sally Gap and Laragh. It seems more remains have been found by Loch Bray today so if you're thinking of hitting the hills tomorrow keep in mind that the road may be closed.

http://www.thejournal.ie/gardai-wicklow-remains-3439787-Jun2017/

1bryan

to be closed for a week, according to some news sources. Not belittling the seriousness of what's going on but it seems extreme to pretty much shut the whole of military road down?

rollingscone

1bryan wrote: »

to be closed for a week, according to some news sources. Not belittling the seriousness of what's going on but it seems extreme to pretty much shut the whole of military road down?

Maybe it'll show drivers how little they need to be there

Sarz91

rollingscone wrote: »

Maybe it'll show drivers how little they need to be there

I don't think many people, drivers or cyclists, need to be there.

1bryan

Sarz91 wrote: »

I don't think many people, drivers or cyclists, need to be there.

there are businesses in the area that will be decimated by this. They always take a hit in the winter months when the road is impassible, but tend to make up for it this time of year with the amount of walkers, cyclists, sunday drivers, etc.

No one 'needs' to be there, but it's a national park. An amenity available to be enjoyed by anyone who wants.

Closing 20 miles of road just seems a bit OTT.

Ironically, there'll have been a lot less cyclists up that road since the botch job they made resurfacing from Lough Bre to Sally Gap.

Eponymous

Was up there on the bike for the first time ever on Sunday. Given the amount of cars/vans etc. which would be required for search and forensic examination it would probably render the route impassable for cars anyway, so better to announce a closure than force people to turn back.

Sarz91

1bryan wrote: »

there are businesses in the area that will be decimated by this. They always take a hit in the winter months when the road is impassible, but tend to make up for it this time of year with the amount of walkers, cyclists, sunday drivers, etc.

No one 'needs' to be there, but it's a national park. An amenity available to be enjoyed by anyone who wants.

Closing 20 miles of road just seems a bit OTT.

Ironically, there'll have been a lot less cyclists up that road since the botch job they made resurfacing from Lough Bre to Sally Gap.

I don't disagree. My point was that it seems a bit ridiculous to say "Maybe it'll show drivers how little they need to be there". Very few people NEED to be there. The whole thing irritates me. Motorists saying cyclists shouldn't be on certain roads (motorways the obvious exception) and cyclists saying the same.

alentejo

RIP to the poor soul whatever the circumstance of this crime is. I think the road closures are perfectly justified and hopefully the extensive searchs being carried out by AGS and the Defence Forces will yield results in finding the full body and hopefully the perpetrators of this awful crime.

Macy0161

Not really sure what they can do, given the circumstances? There's not really options to re-open sections once checked. Think I want whoever did this caught and suck up a weeks closure tbh.

Notwithstanding potential knock on effects of people not visiting the area (not sure too many just go to see glenmacnass/ the gap), there's not really that many businesses affected from Laragh to Sally Gap is there?

P_1

Macy0161 wrote: »

Not really sure what they can do, given the circumstances? There's not really options to re-open sections once checked. Think I want whoever did this caught and suck up a weeks closure tbh.

Notwithstanding potential knock on effects of people not visiting the area (not sure too many just go to see glenmacnass/ the gap), there's not really that many businesses affected from Laragh to Sally Gap is there?

I don't think so. Bar the waterfall that stretch of road is some glorious isolation.

I'm guessing the closures will run from the turnoffs for Glencree all the way down to Laragh meaning the Featherbeds will still be accessible.

irishrover99

I think getting to the bottom of this crime and catching the people who killed and then chopped up a person is more important than been able to drive or cycle or run down a bloody road. I'm sure the business in the location will understand and if people want to get to laragh, they can go in other directions

1bryan

P_1 wrote: »

I don't think so. Bar the waterfall that stretch of road is some glorious isolation.

I'm guessing the closures will run from the turnoffs for Glencree all the way down to Laragh meaning the Featherbeds will still be accessible.

the road is closed from featherbeds, all the way to Laragh. I'm sure it's possible to pass through sally gap from kilbride/roundwood sides, but you can't turn towards glencree or laragh.

The cafes around glencree and those around Laragh get most of their business from people visiting the mountains for recreational purposes. Will probably affect Roundwood also.

rollingscone

Sarz91 wrote: »

I don't disagree. My point was that it seems a bit ridiculous to say "Maybe it'll show drivers how little they need to be there". Very few people NEED to be there. The whole thing irritates me. Motorists saying cyclists shouldn't be on certain roads (motorways the obvious exception) and cyclists saying the same.

Perhaps I was being facetious.

Drivers tend to act like they DO need to be there e.g. doing close passes immediately before pulling in to appreciate the view.

No one NEEDS to be there is exactly my point.

FWIW I believe that for non residents the area should be treated like a nature reserve for access purposes rather than like a very pretty dual carriageway.

That also means that I agree a murder investigation has to be given a lot of leeway when you consider the majority of access non essential.

I'm not sure what businesses would be affected by the closures?

Unless there are some non retail businesses up there?

Miklos

The ice-cream stand that I sometimes see in a semi-hallucinatory state between Glenmacnass and the Gap will be badly hit.

Macy0161

1bryan wrote: »

the road is closed from featherbeds, all the way to Laragh. I'm sure it's possible to pass through sally gap from kilbride/roundwood sides, but you can't turn towards glencree or laragh.

The cafes around glencree and those around Laragh get most of their business from people visiting the mountains for recreational purposes. Will probably affect Roundwood also.

I think only Glencree would be significantly affected. Majority of Laragh and Roundwood motorised traffic comes from the N11/ Kilmac.

The Wicklow Gap is still open for Laragh, and the hills above Lough Tay are still accessible.

monkeyslayer

Out of interest is it possible to cross the gap in the manor Kilbride/ Roundwood direction? Seems a kind of unspecific search in a very specific direction...

Macy0161

monkeyslayer wrote: »

Out of interest is it possible to cross the gap in the manor Kilbride/ Roundwood direction? Seems a kind of unspecific search in a very specific direction...

As far as I'm aware yes - you can cross the Sally Gap, but can't turn for Glencree or Glenmacnass. The Wicklow Tour busses can still dump a load of tourists in the middle of the road at the concrete bridge...

RobFowl

The police work take priority and will take as long as it takes.
Sorry we won't have access to this for some time but that's some mothers son up there.
RIP

Kaisr Sose

RIP to the poor soul. Let the forensic search be conducted as needs be. He deserves no less than this.

If this was a chemical or oil spill, people would not be asking why the road was closed. There are plenty of other hills in Dublin and Wicklow and this is as good a time for people to explore this wonderful amenity ....

P_1

Kaisr Sose wrote: »

RIP to the poor soul. Let the forensic search be conducted as needs be. He deserves no less than this.

If this was a chemical or oil spill, people would not be asking why the road was closed. There are plenty of other hills in Dublin and Wicklow and this is as good a time for people to explore this wonderful amenity ....

TBF I don't think many folk here are questioning why it was closed. I only started the thread to warn folk if they were planning taking in the Military Road on any upcoming spins. I can't imagine it being too much fun climbing to the Featherbeds and then finding the road closed before you and doing a 180.

Goes without saying that I wish the victim's family a swift closure and applaud the Gards and DF personnel for the work they're doing in what can be pretty hairy conditions.

Thud

P_1 wrote: »

I can't imagine it being too much fun climbing to the Featherbeds and then finding the road closed before you and doing a 180.
.

Cunard road is a great descent

retalivity

I went the whole road from rathfanham to laragh early last monday and it was practically deserted, bar the odd van. From the latest press conference given by the garda today, they are looking for anyone with information, suspicions or camera footage on the route since june 2, and the manner in which they think the body parts were disposed off, i dearly hope someone saw something to help find out what happened to that poor woman. My own memory of that day is not great with regards to specifics i.e. vehicles, regs, faces, and i shudder to thimo what i unwittingly passed on the road

irishrover99

Body parts were found in 8 different locations and the Garda say they have never seen anything like this.

I think it now shows justification to close the whole road. Looks like it will be opened up before the weekend now.

Kaisr Sose

irishrover99 wrote: »

Body parts were found in 8 different locations and the Garda say they have never seen anything like this.

This forum has not seen anything like this either!

loyatemu

anyone who has cycled the road recently with a helmet or bike cam, the guards may be interested in your footage.

magicbastarder

irishrover99 wrote: »

Body parts were found in 8 different locations and the Garda say they have never seen anything like this.

sounds a bit like the ned flanagan.

axer

Is there anywhere where the gardai post the route closure or when it opens back up or is it a case of relying on the media?

1bryan

axer wrote: »

Is there anywhere where the gardai post the route closure or when it opens back up or is it a case of relying on the media?

AA roadwatch would be your best bet

irishrover99

axer wrote: »

Is there anywhere where the gardai post the route closure or when it opens back up or is it a case of relying on the media?

Was up stocking lane this morning and its closed from the viewing point so you cannot even get up to the feather beds. I'd be assuming that would be the case in the other directions

Chuchote

1bryan wrote: »

to be closed for a week, according to some news sources. Not belittling the seriousness of what's going on but it seems extreme to pretty much shut the whole of military road down?

Parts of the poor girl have been found in ten separate locations now, and the Army is out searching.

I think the cafes and ice cream stands are going to get plenty of business; there are probably more people on the mountains than at any other time since the Civil War.

The Gardaí in Bray are asking for anyone who has helmetcam, dashcam or other footage in recent weeks to give them a copy, and for anyone who noticed anything unusual along the Military Road and on to Laragh to talk to them. Officers can be contacted at Bray garda station on 01-666 5300 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800-666-111.

Alek

Parts of the poor girl

I've read it was a man in his 20ies?

cython

Alek wrote: »

I've read it was a man in his 20ies?

DNA testing since showed it was a female, since named locally asa grandmother from Dublin: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/wicklow-mountains-murder-victim-named-locally-and-remembered-as-loving-grandmother-35825348.html

dunleakelleher

1bryan wrote: »

Closing 20 miles of road just seems a bit OTT.

ya think?
some poor sod has just been killed and chopped up. his body parts strewn along the road and you think closing 20 miles of national park road, that in your own post recognizes the road is only used for recreational porpuses is a bit OTT. :eek:
well, thank god nothing serious happened there.

1bryan

dunleakelleher wrote: »

ya think?
some poor sod has just been killed and chopped up. his body parts strewn along the road and you think closing 20 miles of national park road, that in your own post recognizes the road is only used for recreational porpuses is a bit OTT. :eek:
well, thank god nothing serious happened there.

what the hell is wrong with you? Read what I said, engage your brain to figure out what I meant, then come back to me.

irishrover99

cython wrote: »

DNA testing since showed it was a female, since named locally asa grandmother from Dublin: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/wicklow-mountains-murder-victim-named-locally-and-remembered-as-loving-grandmother-35825348.html

Turned out to be a near neighbour of mine. You never know who you are living by.RIP

Eamonnator

1bryan wrote: »

to be closed for a week, according to some news sources. Not belittling the seriousness of what's going on but it seems extreme to pretty much shut the whole of military road down?

The Military Road from the Featherbeds to Laragh is, to all intents and purposes, a crime scene. Crime scenes have to be preserved until all evidence is collected.
I don't think, it's, in any way, extreme to close the road to the public.

Kaisr Sose

1bryan wrote: »

what the hell is wrong with you? Read what I said, engage your brain to figure out what I meant, then come back to me.

How can they preserve the scene and search for evidence along the roadway (where it seems the body parts were dust thrown out from a moving car) without closing the road?

You referred to it as OTT. What in your opinion should they do ?

By all accounts what they have done has resulted in finding multiple crime scenes along the closed roadway and at other sites.

A job well done if you ask me and not OTT in the slightest. The victim and her family deserve no less than a full search of the area (which now includes a grave in Wexford and a site at Hell Fire Club) and a thorough investigation for evidence and remains.

There are many more hills and roads in Dublin and Wicklow to drive or cycle on that are not crime scenes.

1bryan

Kaisr Sose wrote: »

How can they preserve the scene and search for evidence along the roadway (where it seems the body parts were dust thrown out from a moving car) without closing the road?

You referred to it as OTT. What in your opinion should they do ?

By all accounts what they have done has resulted in finding multiple crime scenes along the closed roadway and at other sites.

A job well done if you ask me and not OTT in the slightest. The victim and her family deserve no less than a full search of the area (which now includes a grave in Wexford and a site at Hell Fire Club) and a thorough investigation for evidence and remains.

There are many more hills and roads in Dublin and Wicklow to drive or cycle on that are not crime scenes.

yep, all fair enough. Just, I never remember such a long stretch of road being closed for anything other than bad weather before.

And without meaning to be pedantic, from what I can gather from the media coverage, it seems all finds were made by members of the public and not the search teams, but that's somewhat moot.

Anyway, that's the last from me. I expressed a viewpoint, now I'm being attacked (not by you - your post was reasonable, hence my responding).

Obviously, thoughts are with those affected by this.

Cycling-only, from now on

buffalo

1bryan wrote: »

yep, all fair enough. Just, I never remember such a long stretch of road being closed for anything other than bad weather before.

How many crimes have such a wide scattering of finds and therefore crime scenes, with potential for more finds in between and further afield?

1bryan wrote: »

And without meaning to be pedantic, from what I can gather from the media coverage, it seems all finds were made by members of the public and not the search teams, but that's somewhat moot.

Not true - the latest finds were by search teams.

Chuchote

The Army is out searching. This is a scene of horror. All we should be saying is condolences to the lady's friends and family.

Kaisr Sose

1bryan wrote: »

yep, all fair enough. Just, I never remember such a long stretch of road being closed for anything other than bad weather before

In the words of Bray Garda, it is unprecedented as a crime/ crime scene!

Thud

The fact they first thought the body was 25 year old man vs 60 woman indicates how gruesome it must have been, not a nice job.

the amount of rubbish dumped up there can't have helped with the search, I'd imagine some poor Garda/Soldier has to go through all of that just in case.

LpPepper

Went for a drive just up to Viewpoint yesterday evening and saw 2 guys cycling down from Military Road through the "Road Closed" signs and then down towards Cruagh, also another come up from Hellfire direction and straight through the road closed sign...

Can some people not read?...

07Lapierre

LpPepper wrote: »

Went for a drive just up to Viewpoint yesterday evening and saw 2 guys cycling down from Military Road through the "Road Closed" signs and then down towards Cruagh, also another come up from Hellfire direction and straight through the road closed sign...

Can some people not read?...

AFAIK "Road closed" signs only apply to Motorised traffic.

LpPepper

07Lapierre wrote: »

AFAIK "Road closed" signs only apply to Motorised traffic.

Really? I would have thought any access wouldn't be permitted. If I had cycled up and planned on going towards Featherbeds I would have turned around upon seeing the sign

Kaisr Sose

07Lapierre wrote: »

AFAIK "Road closed" signs only apply to Motorised traffic.

Road closed is a closed road for all.

07Lapierre

Kaisr Sose wrote: »

Road closed is a closed road for all.

Link? The only reference i can find to road closures are in the 1961 Road Traffic act, which refers to "Mechanically Propelled vehicles".

07Lapierre

LpPepper wrote: »

Really? I would have thought any access wouldn't be permitted. If I had cycled up and planned on going towards Featherbeds I would have turned around upon seeing the sign

So would I, but mainly because the reason for the road closure has been very well publicised.

smacl

Kaisr Sose wrote: »

Road closed is a closed road for all.

I would thought that was certainly the intention in this case, regardless of the rule of law. Given that a man has been charged and admitted to the killing I'd say we'll have the Military road back sooner rather than later.

thejaguar

Has there been any indication if/when the road will be re-opened? Or is there somewhere you can get information?

irishrover99

thejaguar wrote: »

Has there been any indication if/when the road will be re-opened? Or is there somewhere you can get information?

From someone i follow on Strava, his ride last night brought him over the Sally Gap from the Manor Kilbride way and then onto Luggula and up Ballinastoe.

He said he had to go that way as the other ways were closed.