COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

QUESTION NO. 11

QUESTION: Councillor G. O'Connell

"To ask the Manager to report on the signage and speed limits on the City Bound Carriageway of the N4 and R148 and to state if he is satisfied that it is acceptable and accurate. Despite requests (I have had motions and questions before this committee and the Traffic Committee since May 2009) the number of motorists who complain of missed lanes continues, there are reports of near misses due to drivers attempting to switch lanes at the last minute and the numbers doing a uturn at Kennelsfort Road shows no reduction. Additionally, the speed limit of 80 Kh at the slip road to Liffey Valley is still in place despite the fact that it reduces to 60 Kh after the slip road from Liffey Valley. There are no signs warning of weaving traffic either on this piece of road or between the intersection of the M50 (on the R148) and Kennelsfort Road. Both stretches of roadway are treacherous and especially the R148 is an accident waiting to happen, one is the responsibility of the NRA the other of this Council; both need to be addressed and rectifies urgently?"

REPLY:

The Council is generally satisfied with the signage on the N4 and R148 and does not accept that both stretches of roadway are an accident waiting to happen. The signage is constantly under review by  both South Dublin County Council and the NRA.

The approaches to the M50 interchange in the N4 and R148 are signed with substantial gantry signs and supplementary road markings including necessary speed limits. These signs and markings indicate to drivers the correct lane to use approaching the interchange. Normal rules of the road apply to traffic changing lanes where they must give way to traffic in the lane they are moving into. Other traffic must be cognisant of traffic changing lanes as is generally the case approaching busy junction such as this. Drivers are advised of the correct lane to choose some 700m from the junction which is considered adequate and well within regulation provided traffic obeys the speed limit.  The enforcement of the speed limit is a matter for the Garda Authorities.

Traffic from Liffey Valley must cross the 2 lanes and get into the M50 Southbound approach. During congestion a gap may not be available for this manoeuvre, such conditions generally occur when traffic is slow moving or stationary thus enabling traffic to do so safely. U turns are acceptable at the Kennelsfort Road junction which accommodates traffic which has missed its turn for M50 southbound on the western approach to the M50 and there is ample room for drivers to do so in a safe manner.

The matter of weaving traffic signs will be examined.

In relation to the location of the speed limit signage it is necessary to signpost the higher speed limit prior to its reduction.

Any accident trends, should they occur, are studied by council officials in conjunction with the relevant traffic Garda.