€50k to install zebra crossing near school following car accident

SPEEDING countermeasures are being installed outside a school with a cost of around €50k following an incident where a car hit a bus stop and overturned on the road.

Works outside the entrance to St Mark’s Community School in Tallaght are being carried out to install a raised zebra crossing, which was requested by the school.

Speeding is a daily occurrence and an ongoing issue along the Cookstown Road, which serves as the main travel route for those attending St Mark’s CS and St Mark’s GAA Club.

Last December, shortly after students from St Mark’s had finished school, there was an incident which left a car overturned on the road with a trail of debris, including shattered glass, behind it.

The car entered the footpath, hitting a bus stop and fence before flipping to a halt.

At that point, South Dublin County Council said the area would be “looked at for upgrade works to promote active travel” after completing other works at the nearby primary school.

However, with concerns regarding traffic management issues and speeding issues intensifying, plans were accelerated by the council and last week, ground was broken on site for the project.

“The works close to the St Mark’s Community School are being carried out for our Traffic section,” Michael McAdam, senior engineer for South Dublin County Council, tells The Echo.

“The works are for a raised belisha beacon (“Zebra”) crossing as requested and agreed with the school.

“The works are expected to be complete by the end of August 2023.

“The cost of the works is approximately €50,000. The installation of this crossing will promote active travel as it will provided a safer location to cross the road close to the school.”

New road markings had been installed on the road in recent months to notify road users that there was a school ahead and these new works are targeting an increased safety for those walking in the area.