N25 Emergency Traffic Plan unveiled
The emergency plan was developed after a number of tragic accidents.
This week, the N25 Emergency Traffic Plan was unveiled to the public for the first time.
The ‘bespoke emergency traffic plan’ is the result of a joint project between An Garda Síochána and Kilkenny County Council (KCC).
It was created in the wake of multiple traffic accidents, collisions and fatalities along the N25.
At the Piltown Municipal District meeting, Area Engineer for KCC John Tennyson set out the parameters of the new plan.
Stakeholders include the emergency services, BAM Civil Engineering Ltd (with responsibility for the New Ross bypass and Glenmore bridge) and N25 South Link (with responsibility for the Waterford bypass, Luffany and the section to Slieverue Roundabout).
Mr Tennyson said: “Essentially, the plan is the two pillars of the N25, i.e. Luffany and Glenmore roundabouts, they will be closed by the first responders, which will typically be An Garda Síochána and the fire services. Once they are closed, all traffic will be diverted at Luffany roundabout, back the N25 bypass then either up the N9 or the R448 for learner drivers.
He continued: “From there, they will take the R704 at Mullinavat down to New Ross and back out the R723 and pick up the N25 again at Glenmore roundabout and on to the N25 Wexford-bound. Vice versa for Glenmore roundabout.” The meeting heard how the first responders would handle emergencies, followed by Kilkenny Council, N25 South Link and BAM. According to Mr Tennyson: “Each respective body will take on the ownership from that point on to relieve the Guards.
“This plan will be in the nerve centre or control room at Ballybricken (Garda Station) and there’ll be clear cohesion and transparency for all Garda members on duty of what to do and where to report their various staff to.
“The main junctions will be manned by KCC, particularly Slieverue roundabout, the Kiln road. Then down on the R723 road at the Raheen albatross junction and two other junctions at Shanbough Lower and Milltown, all those will be either manned or road closures will be put in place with diversions onto the R704.” Mr Tennyson ended the summary with: “I suppose the most important thing is that in the event of a forced road closure, this is implemented absolutely straight away to alleviate against previous issues where there was a lot of traffic, especially HGV traffic going on to our local primary and secondary roads and causing massive disruptions to those roads.
Currently, the control room is located at Tramore Garda Station on a temporary basis.
Stakeholders are examining five individual road junctures to see what safety improvements can be made.
Councillor Ger Frisby welcomed the plan, and praised the steering committee, Road Safety Campaign Group, for pushing the plan and the speed limit review to the forefront: “Kudos must go to them for getting the ball rolling.”
