Davitt pushes for rethink on lights at Cloughan junction
A strong case for the erection of lights at Cloughan Junction was made by Cllr Aoife Davitt at the September meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad after the official response to her proposal threw cold water on the suggestion.
The response provided to Cllr Davitt stated that the current standard advises that mainline road lighting on the National Road network is generally restricted to urban locations and the remaining network is predominately unlit.
It continued by explaining that Cloughan Junction would not qualify for lighting, and in order for lights to be installed, a “Departure from Standard” order would be required, which requires TII (Traffic Infrastructure Ireland) approval. A lighting evaluation would also have to have been carried out, and justification for the lighting provided.
“The Standard advises that ‘in most instances, it is expected that lighting on the mainline will not be justified’,” the response concluded.
Cllr Davitt countered that the policy document on the use of mainline road lighting on the national road network dates from 2018 “basically just tells us that they’re trying to save money”.
“Then they go on to talk about how there is a sustainability element to it and about reducing their carbon footprint, but the first thing that they actually trot off is about saving money,” she said, adding that there were originally two lights at the junction and they took both.
“We’re talking about a staggered junction, and we’re talking about an island in one of those staggered junctions.
“We’re also talking about a business where there are lights and cars in a car park that can actually skew people’s view of where they may be in the road.”
She pleaded for the case to be re-examined: “Can we carry out a lighting evaluation for this junction? Because I do think it is important,” she said.
“Any person who comes from The Downs, Killucan, over to go to Multyfarnham, to go to Clonkill, to go to Collinstown, to go to any part of that area will come cross country, and they’ll actually use that junction. It’s an extremely busy one.”
She added that the issue was raised constantly with her on doorsteps during the local election campaign.
Director of services Deirdre Reilly undertook to refer the issue back to the council’s transportation section for re-examination.