CONCERNS ABOUT several aspects of safety on the Ennis bypass have re-emerged following the death of a woman who drove the wrong way along the busy motorway on Tuesday night.
Mary Doyle (72), from Miltown Malbay, Co Clare, died after she mistakenly made a wrong turn on to the M18 which took her into the path of oncoming traffic.
Unlike other major routes across the country, there are no “turn back now” or “wrong way” signs at the location where Ms Doyle is thought to have entered the motorway.
Issues surrounding signage and access to the Ennis bypass, at two locations in particular, have been highlighted on several occasions by local politicians and residents living close to the dual-carriageway.
There have been numerous incidents where motorists were reported driving in the wrong direction along what was then the N18.
Gardaí have received at least three reports of similar incidents in recent weeks. In all cases however, motorists realised their mistake and either turned around or were able to leave the dual-carriageway safely at the next exit. It is understood however, that this is the first time that such confusion has led to a crash while Tuesday night’s death was the first fatality on the Ennis bypass.
A safety audit undertaken by the National Roads Authority before the opening of the Ennis bypass was called into dispute last August, just weeks before the N18 was upgraded to M18 motorway. Local councillors have claimed that the interchanges at Tulla Road and Barefield are too dangerous.
At the location where Ms Doyle got on to the motorway, traffic leaving the route and vehicles joining the route travel along the same slip-road with no safety barrier between them.
Ennis Town and Clare county councillor Johnny Flynn (FG) has in the past questioned aspects of the design and layout of the interchange at Barefield.
The civil engineer and former chief fire officer for Co Limerick said yesterday: “While I am reluctant to comment at this early stage on this tragic loss of life, it is widely known that grave concerns have been raised in recent years about safety on this route and especially at the Tulla Road and Barefield interchanges.
A spokesperson for the National Road Authority would only say: “We will await the completion of the Garda investigation into the crash.”