A proposal to abandon a sliproad in the Co Waterford village of Lemybrien has been met with scepticism from local councillors.
The measure has been recommended by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) as part of a plan to slow traffic through the village.
The slip road connects the N25 to the R676 Carrick road, the proposal is to close off the road instead forcing traffic to slow down and make a turn further up the road.
A public consultation will take place before councillors in the Comeragh area have their say on it again in April.
Senior roads engineer with Waterford Council Gabriel Hynes explained the reasoning behind the proposal to councillors at the Comeragh district meeting. He said the move was designed to protect vulnerable road users and reduce speed:
"As you come into Lemybrien at present you can slip off on that slip road and it's very convenient to do that and you can do it at reasonable speed as our surveys have shown. The reason we want to remove that, is that it makes the vehicles slow down and they in turn are slowing the vehicles down behind them, and in that way you're getting the maximum reduction in speed."
Cllr Liam Brazil said it "doesn't make sense" he's concerned the plans would cause more accidents:
"If you're going to slow traffic down coming from both sides you're going to cause an accident, and that's something that we're trying to prevent in Lemybrien, there have been accidents and fatalities down through the years and I don't want to be responsible for something that will cause more".
Fellow councillors Seanie Power and Ger Barron also expressed concerns. Cllr Barron wondered if there was a compromise plan that would ensure the funding for road improvements in the area, without abandoning the slip road.
The plans will be out for public consultation for four weeks and will revert to councillors for a decision following that.
