Madam, - Following Monday's awful crash on the now infamous Ballinameesda bends on the N11 in which two men lost their lives the question must be asked again: why has the planned road improvement been postponed?
With 16 people killed on this stretch of road in nine years it is clear it is a death-trap. As someone who lives nearby, I have to take my life into my hands every day to join the N11. This stretch has driveways from houses directly leading on to the N11 at sections where there are bends in the road! How can Minister for Transport Martin Cullen lecture us about safe driving when he has postponed the planned upgrading of this final bit of single-lane madness? The land for the new road is in place, residents have been moved by compulsory purchase orders and Wicklow County Council was ready to build. What is the problem? Surely it is now a matter of urgency to make this part of the N11 safe for all road users?
According to your edition of Tuesday, Mr Cullen said the road would be completed by 2012. This means that perhaps eight or nine people will die on this part of the N11 (judging by past statistics ) by the time the Government decides to complete the N11 between Rathnew and Arklow.
My thoughts are with the families of the latest victims of the Ballinameesda bends. Shame on the Government. - Yours, etc,
GREG PETERSON, Ballinameesda Cottage, Dunganstwon, Kilbride, Co Wicklow.