Dangerous Wexford bend to be realigned following accident which sees elderly couple get ‘fright of their lives’

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

One of the most notorious bends in Co Wexford is to be realigned following yet another narrow escape there last weekend. Speaking at the September meeting of the New Ross Municipal District (NRMD) Councillor Bridín Murphy revealed how she had witnessed an elderly couple fall foul of Leech’s Bend on the N30 in Clonroche.

“I was travelling behind a car that skidded, it went across the road, into the ditch, and almost flipped over,” she said. “It was an elderly couple from Kerry, they got the fright of their lives.

"There was certainly no speed involved, but there was damage done to the front of the car. Thankfully there was nothing coming in the other direction or they would have been in a spot of bother.

"Is there any update on a plan for that bend to make it safer? I know there are arrow signs there but on the approach could we put dangerous bend ahead signs to forewarn people? People who aren’t from the area aren’t fully aware of how dangerous it is.”

Cllr Murphy received backing from Cllr John Fleming who said the bend was “notoriously bad” and the scene of several accidents in recent years.

Confirming he was aware of the incident in question, district engineer David Murphy said he had been discussing the matter with the council’s road safety department and plans were in place to realign the bend in the coming months.