elphin local area plan 2009 - 2015 - Roscommon County Council

Chapter 4: Infrastructure and Services
Access from the adjoining hinterland is provided via the local road network; including the L1403 from the
north (Croghan), the L1412 from the south and the L1031 from the east (Hillstreet).
The Department of Transport has also funded a regional road programme for the provision of
comprehensive new directional and route identification signage.
Main Street
Chapel Street
Urban Streets
Historical development is concentrated on Main Street and to a lesser extent on the contiguous sections of
Chapel Street to the west and Castle Street to the east. Similar too many market towns Main Street is
relatively wide. A typical cross-section includes adequate footpaths on both sides with parallel parking on
the eastbound side and perpendicular or parallel parking on the west bound side of the Street. However, at
peak times, perpendicular parking can be difficult to access and is disruptive to traffic flow.
Significant peripheral development has taken place on New Street and Bishop Street and on the L1400
(known locally as Windmill Road). The width, condition and reliability of footpaths deteriorate further out
from the town centre in all directions.
As with many rural towns, one of the main challenges for Elphin is to reconcile activities associated with
local commercial/agricultural traffic (deliveries, mart traffic, loading and unloading of bulk materials, etc)
with non-commercial local traffic and regional/commuter traffic passing through the town.
Overall, the number of parking spaces in the town appears to be adequate. However, an expectation to
park in the immediate vicinity of one’s destination can lead to localised disorderly parking, even when
free spaces are available within a short distance. There are also sections of Chapel Street where parking
habits and/or lack of designated parking spaces are interfering with traffic flow and the safety of traffic
and pedestrian movements alike.
A requirement for pedestrian crossings should be monitored and evaluated. From general observation it
would appear that traffic volumes do not present difficulties for unassisted pedestrian crossing
movements; consequently, pedestrians may not avail of a designated crossing facility. Notwithstanding
the above, a designated crossing facility may benefit more vulnerable pedestrians (older and younger
pedestrians) on Main Street, and possibly on Chapel Street at Saint Patrick’s Church. A very effective
junior school warden crossing operates at Abbeycartron National School on Bishop Street.
Elphin Local Area Plan 2009-2015 Page 19