Local thoughts on Thompsons Cross

I live 500 metres away on the “new” road at Thompsons Cross, and I have to say it’s not surprising to see another accident, writes local resident Damian Strain in response to the latest crash at the junction. I think that’s now three in the last month alone – and that’s only the ones where the damage is visible!

I hate saying it, but only in Ireland could anyone consider writing a cryptic, upside-down warning on the road surface that is only visible in daylight, and then, only if you happen to not be looking where you’re going but on the road immediately in front of you as any kind of effort of providing a warning of an upcoming junction. At the same time there isn’t one sign saying “Junction Ahead” anywhere on approach, just a basic small T-junction sign!

I think most modern countries learned some 40 years ago that writing messages on the road was far from an ideal solution. In fact, you simply won’t see it anywhere in continental Europe. KCC seem to be making it up as they go along and obviously take no advice from traffic-flow experts. I mean, what kind of bright spark could have come up with such a lame solution back in June?

Sabina Reddy is 100% correct in saying that the proper solution is a roundabout with proper signage on approach. How anyone can say that a roundabout “would do little to improve the situation” is beyond me. Most mornings there is a queue of traffic coming off the “new road” joining the main Athy road and quite often there are very close calls with people taking a chance at finding a gap and joining the traffic. Although the speed limit on the Athy road has been reduced from 100kph to 80kph, it’s obvious very view motorists have noticed.

But my biggest gripe is about access for cyclists! Our oldest daughter would love to ride her bike into the village to meet up with her friends but this junction makes that impossible to do safely and so she doesn’t go. The hard-shoulder is now used as a turning lane and motorists turn into the new road are blind of any cyclists or pedestrians. There has been a new access made for pedestrians up onto the old Athy road, but the gate there makes it impossible to get bicycles through.

All in all, there appears to have been little or no thought put into the design of this junction, and anything done since has been half-hearted.