Deadly Carlow N80 road demands urgent safety overhaul
The scene of both fatal road accidents on the N80 at Leagh, Co Carlow Photo: michaelorourkephotography.ie
CATHERINE Callaghan has highlighted the urgency of improving safety at the Leagh Bends stretch of road on the N80 following the recent tragic road accident that saw two lives lost.
In a heart-wrenching coincidence, two young members of Carlow’s Indian community, Bhargav Chitturi (23) and Suresh Cherukuri (24) lost their lives exactly one year after a crash claimed three lives at the same location, intensifying pressure on authorities to expedite planned safety improvements for this notorious stretch of road.
The fatal crash occurred on the first anniversary of the deaths of Katie Graham (19), Daryl Culbert (21), and Michael Kelly (25) at the very same location, known locally as Shirley's Bends.
Ms Callaghan expressed her condolences to the families and highlighted the urgent need for action, saying she has been in contact with the new minister for transport Darragh O'Brien. “I wanted to ensure that I added my voice to the voices of residents in Carlow who have been affected once again by the dreadful road accident at Leagh Bends. I appealed to the minister for transport to ensure that the processes that Carlow County Council has actively been engaged in to improve the layout of this stretch of the N80 in order to make it less dangerous.
“I appealed to the minister to ensure that this process is expedited so that people of Carlow do not have to wake up ever again to the dreadful reality of another death, another road death at Leagh Bends.”
To date, Carlow County Council has initiated statutory processes for the N80 Leagh Bends Scheme, which aims to realign approximately 3km of the road to eliminate dangerous bends. The council submitted planning applications to An Bord Pleanála on 3 December last, including a compulsory purchase order for necessary land acquisition.
An Bord Pleanála confirmed it has received nine submissions on the proposed road application and nine objections to the compulsory purchase order. “The target date for decision is 5 June 2025,” An Bord Pleanála told .
The safety improvement plans, developed in partnership with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, received initial approval in June 2024 following sustained pressure from local representatives and community members in the wake of the January 2024 tragedy.
