Roundabout proposed for ‘very dangerous’ junction in busy Waterford area

A roundabout has been proposed for a “very dangerous” junction in a busy part of Waterford city.

Social Democrats councillor Mary Roche discussed the topic at the November Metropolitan District meeting of Waterford City and County Council.

Cllr Roche spoke about the junction at the end of Ballygunner Hill. The hill, officially called St. Mary's Place, meets the Dunmore Road just opposite the Riverside Cottage.

She stated: “Again, this is something we’ve raised probably a year ago at this stage.

“There’s a huge amount of traffic turning right and turning left there. It’s a very dangerous junction and could that be reviewed and some mechanism put in place there?”

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This call was later supported by the Metropolitan Mayor of Waterford, Fianna Fáil councillor Adam Wyse.

Cllr Wyse said: “There was traffic calming done there before but there was nothing done to actually slow cars down coming off a country road there at serious speeds. It’s not safe for people to cross.”

In response to the councillors, Executive Engineer Alan O’Shea said that the junction is particularly busy at school opening and closing times.

Mr O’Shea continued: “We’ll have to look at it and see what we can do, but realistically, I’d say you’re talking about all you can do there is a roundabout.

“Whether we’re prepared to put that investment into that junction, even if it’s predominantly [busy] at school times, it’s something that has to be assessed.”

He detailed how there is planning permission for a housing estate in the area, beside the Riverside Cottage pub.

“They have permission for a right-hand lane into that proposed estate, so I suppose that will do a little bit of traffic calming there as well if that was to go ahead.”

“We’ll have a look at it and get back to you,” Mr O’Shea concluded.