RSA concern at rest stop cuts

THE ROAD Safety Authority (RSA) has expressed concern for motorist safety following the suspension of nine out of 12 proposed motorway service areas.

The locations had been identified for the development of service areas by 2010, when the network is due for completion.

But as a result of the dropping of nine service areas, new motorways due to open next year between Dublin and Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford will not feature any service areas for motorists to stop.

In a letter of concern about the effects of the cut, the RSA said driver fatigue was a significant issue on Irish roads. It told the National Roads Authority (NRA) that while it welcomed the development of three service areas, two on the M1 at Lusk and Castlebellingham and one at Enfield on the M4, the remaining service areas should be developed as quickly as possible.

The RSA told The Irish Timesdrivers should be aware of the risk of driving while tired and it urged local authorities to ensure unserviced areas along the network are accessible, especially to heavy goods vehicles, and that barriers are removed to enable drivers to take a break.

A plan by the NRA to expand the number of picnic and toilet areas at the sides of new motorways was dropped because of fears of “antisocial behaviour”. An issue also arose about the design of kerbing separating rest areas from the main motorway.

The Irish Road Haulage Association has expressed its dissatisfaction with the lack of facilities, pointing out that unserviced rest areas on the motorway network are not numerous, and in any event are frequently insufficient for the parking of heavy goods vehicles. A spokesman said it was an added insult that drivers were prevented from parking at the wide areas on toll plazas. Each of the new motorways are to feature two tolls, from next year.

Under budgetary cuts announced last February the NRA was forbidden from spending on any capital projects not already underway, unless each new project was sanctioned by the Department of Finance. The curbs affected 78 major construction projects in the NRA Roads Programme.

A spokesman for the NRA said it was aware of the concerns about the suspension of the programme and that it would be resumed as soon as funding became available.