Unsafe Road Condition

Reported in the Road or path defects category by Trish Bartnik at 18:30, Fri 10 September 2021
Sent to Galway City Council 5 minutes later

Dear Sir/Madam,

Not sure if this is the right place to email this query but I’m writing to discuss a health and safety concern on my street on Mount Pleasant Drive, Rahoon Rd, Galway City.

Our street is short and a dead end road, there’s a small crumbling wall next to it and opposite that wall is a patch of overgrown land and a couple metres from there is a commercial building. This road has the residents parking next to the footpath of the houses, due to this there is not enough space to do a 3 point turn and at times we are forced to reverse backwards onto a major road with faster moving traffic. Not only is it a road that goes uphill onto the major road but there is a house on one side and the wall on the other which has no visibility for the driver. As far as I know, reversing back onto a major road is not allowed and highly dangerous, not only for the driver but also for any incoming cyclists and other drivers.

I have emailed the Galway County Council who have responded to me with:

“Unfortunately we cannot extend the road past the original boundary of the estate. The estate is taken in charge in its current layout and GCC provide maintenance on the existing road and footpath surface when required. Extending the estate would not be under our remit and lands surrounding the estate are not in the ownership of the Transportation Dept.”

I find this unacceptable and I am afraid that if in the worst case scenario, myself or the older residents of my street get into an accident that we will be liable for being forced into reversing due to the road condition. I’m proposing that the short already-broken wall is demolished and even if the end of the road was slightly more rounded or slightly extended width wise that it would be enough to make a safe 3 point turn in order to safely exit onto the major road.

Any advice on the matter would greatly be appreciated.

Kind Regards, Trish Bartnik