Civic and community leaders from Monaghan will meet the chief executive of the National Roads Authority (NRA) tomorrow in an effort to get funding to tackle a road accident black spot in Castleblayney.
Three pensioners have been killed and several people injured in recent years crossing the town's main street which forms part of the route of the busy N2 Derry/Dublin motorway but doesn't have a pedestrian crossing.
A group of local politicians and town councillors have arranged to travel to Dublin tomorrow to met Mr Michael Tobin, chief executive of the NRA. They want a pedestrian crossing in the town centre and special funding from the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, to enable the roads authority to speed up a planned bypass which will take Dublin/Derry traffic away from the town centre.
They also intend to arrange further talks with Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, in a bid to get a new link road provided in the town to take heavy traffic away from the town centre.
Fianna Fáil councillor Mr Brendan Hughes said yesterday: "This delegation is going to the NRA in a effort to halt the continuing spiral of pedestrian deaths in our town.
"Pensioners take their life in hand every time they cross the street - already three have died when struck by lorries on separate occasions."
The latest victim was an 84-year-old retired shopkeeper who lost his life last month."The fact that a major national route runs through the town makes the issue a responsibility of the roads authority," Cllr Hughes said.