FAILURE to upgrade some Limerick roads could lead to four deaths and nearly 10 serious injuries, according to grim predictions from a briefing document from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).
The document, seen last year by Transport Minister Eamon Ryan, warns of the potential for 77 deaths on roads nationwide in the next five years if multiple stretches of road around the country aren’t upgraded.
In Limerick, four deaths and three injuries are predicted if no upgrade works take place on the N21 Newcastle West Relief Road, according to the TII.
A further five injuries are forecast if no works are carried out on another stretch of the N21 by the Abbeyfeale Relief Road.
The TII’s briefing document, titled ‘Briefing Note to the Department of Transport on the Consequences of the Funding Scenarios for 2023’, outlined concerns about road safety if roads projects nationwide weren’t adequately invested in.
Reacting to the document, Limerick Minister of State Patrick O’Donovan said that it worth worth noting that some of the road projects mentioned in the document were currently in planning stages.
Speaking to RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, the Minister said: “One of the things that has to be noted is that some of these roads that are outlined in this are actually making their way through the planning process at the moment.”
“It is worth pointing out that over the last number of years, this government has invested very heavily in roads,” he said.
“There’s no doubt about it, during my time as a councillor and as a TD there has always been demands for road improvements, that’s natural.”
This year so far has seen a significant increase in road deaths nationwide, with 136 people having losing their lives on Irish roads so far.
That figure equates to 23 more people who have been fatally injured in road accidents compared to the same period last year.
