Residents’ concern over traffic system

Residents of Sarsfield Street have become increasingly concerned about the number of heavy goods vehicles traveling up Sarsfield Street since the implementation of the one-way traffic system in Nenagh last year.

With the one-way traffic system in place, heavy goods vehicles are required to take a right turn from Mitchel Street towards Emmet Place if their vehicle exceeds 3.5 tonnes in weight. However, residents of Sarsfield Street have noticed that a lot of heavy goods vehicles ignore this rule and turn up towards Sarsfield Street.

“None of them go that way, they all come up Sarsfield Street,” said Dave Douglas, a concerned resident from Sarsfield Street.

“There’s notices up, trucks over 3.5 tonnes, etc, all supposed to do a right turn, and they don’t, they all do a left turn for Sarsfield Street,

“What I can’t understand is why the heavy goods vehicles that are not supposed to turn our way, do turn that way and why everybody is turning a blind eye to it. All they are doing is breaking the law, because the law states at the bottom of the street that there’s a limit as to what’s supposed to be coming up Sarsfield Street,” said Dave.

Increased Traffic

“Unless you live along Sarsfield Street, you don’t really appreciate how much heavy traffic comes up here. We get everything; tractors, buses, heavy lorries, goods vehicles, and they are all coming up Sarsfield Street. They should be going to Emmet place and up Ashe Road,” said Dave.

“There’s probably about 1.5 times the amount of traffic coming up the road as what used to come up the road,” said Dave.

“Our houses vibrate at this stage. There are ginormous agricultural vehicles, as well as articulated trucks as well as double decker buses,” said Magella Hogan, another concerned resident of Sarsfield Street.

“Why can’t they read the signage? 3.5 tonnes is the biggest that should be able to come up our street," she said.

Speeding Offences

Sarsfield Street has a speed limit of 30 km/h. However, residents have noticed that a lot of drivers along Sarsfield Street are driving in excess of the speed limit.

“At times if it is quiet, it’s like a racing track. I would say that if drivers get a clear run, there’s some that are well exceeding the speed limit,” said Dave.

This was echoed by local business owner, Joe Mulqueen of Andy’s Gastro Pub.

He said: “It’s speed, speed, speed. Since the one-way system has changed, the speed of vehicles on this street daytime and night-time, cars are sitting on each other’s bumpers, it’s a hazard."

Another local business owner from Sarsfield Street also commented on people’s speed.

“It’s just ridiculous. It’s the speed, It’s the lack of patience in people. A lot of times people will come right up on top of you, and they will beep you out of it when you are trying to park,” said the business owner.

Safety Concerns

Residents of Sarsfield Street are calling for speed bumps and a zebra crossing to be implemented along this road.

“I’m the halfway mark between upper and lower Sarsfield Street,” explained Magella Hogan.

“The speed is horrific up here, the youngsters call it Mondello street at this stage…it’s so dangerous,

“We need a zebra crossing up here somewhere. There are businesses on both sides of the street. Any other residential streets in the town, they all have a zebra crossing so many yards apart, why shouldn’t we have a zebra crossing on such a busy street,” she questioned.

Breeda Noonan from Sarsfield Street also worries for people’s safety.

“At this present moment I’m afraid that someone is going to be killed. There’s a lot of older residents on this street. It’s terrifying now at this stage,

“I think there needs to be a crosswalk on upper Sarsfield Street and there needs to be speed ramps with a speed limit,” said Breeda.

Council Response

Tipperary County Council are aware that a number of HGVs are turning left at the top of Mitchel Street.

“The council are satisfied with the operation of the one-way system, and we believe that it has helped improve the flow of traffic through the town,” commented Kieran Malone, Senior Engineer, Roads and Transportation Section of Tipperary County Council.

“We are aware that the gardaí are pursuing a number of cases against HGV drivers following compliance checks on the one-way system. We will review this again with the gardaí to establish if there is any need to amend signage on the one-way system,” he said.

“In relation to the possibility of pedestrian crossings on Sarsfield St, we are aware of a desire to see a crossing installed on Sarsfield St. We will review the street to identify where a crossing could be installed. Installation of additional crossings will be dependent of availability of funding,” commented Mr Malone.