Central crash barriers damaged during accidents are being left unrepaired for weeks by local authorities because they have not been given guidelines by the National Road Authority instructing them on barrier repair procedures.
The NRA began retrofitting all dual-carriageways and motorways with the safety barriers after a series of accidents involving vehicles crossing the central median in 2004. Since then, it has been standard practice for all new motorways, dual-carriageways and the latest 2+1 roads to have the barriers fitted to prevent vehicles crossing into the path of oncoming traffic.
However, there are no guidelines as to what is an acceptable delay in repairing damaged barriers or how often they should be inspected. While the initial fitting of the barriers was the responsibility of the NRA, subsequent maintenance and repair has been left to local authorities or companies that retain responsibility for roads built under public/private partnership.
On the latest 2+1 road in County Cork, where overtaking lanes are staggered along the length of the road and passing traffic is separated only by the barriers, the local authority in Cork has been given instructions by the NRA stating that the barriers must be inspected twice a day and any damage repaired within 48 hours.
However, the delay for repairing damaged barriers on motorways and dual-carriageways where there is also a central median can be much longer. "We should be more proactive in this area," admitted Harry Cullen, head of safety at the NRA. "But there are no guidelines from the NRA for local authorities at present."
The most popular type of barriers are wire rope barriers that are held in place by metal posts. These barriers are the easiest to repair, according to Alan Muldoon from Holgate Fencing, one of Ireland's largest suppliers of central crash barriers. "If a crash happened today, then the repair should be carried out tomorrow."
While there is no breakdown of the actual figure spent on barrier repairs, the NRA pays local authorities over €53 million annually to ensure the network of national roads are maintained properly.
Motorists who crash into barriers have been warned that they or their insurers are responsible for the cost of barrier repairs. "It's only fair that the money is recovered," said Cullen. "However, in a lot of situations we find that the accidents happen at night and are single vehicle accidents, which are very seldom reported to the gardaí."