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IPL group details a modern pedestrian priority upgrade at the junction of Convent Road and Daingean Road in Tullamore, utilising Modupost illuminated crossing systems and Flexi-tact Guidance paving to secure the route near Scoil an Chroí Rónaofa.
Navigating the convergence of school commuter traffic and general urban transit requires robust safety interventions, particularly at asymmetrical road layouts. The junction where Convent Road yields to the busy Daingean Road and O'Carroll Street thoroughfare, situated near the canal and immediately adjacent to Sacred Heart Catholic School (Scoil an Chroí Rónaofa) in Tullamore, historically presented a high-risk crossing environment for students. To mitigate this hazard, a pedestrian-first active travel upgrade was implemented, deploying advanced illuminated crossing systems and surface-mounted tactile delineation from the IPL group portfolio.
A defining feature of this junction upgrade is the implementation of road-level, or flush, kerbs. Aligning with modern urban design guidelines like the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS), elevating the carriageway to the footpath level, often referred to as a raised table or continuous footway, forces approaching vehicles to drastically reduce speed.
It fundamentally shifts the priority to pedestrians, requiring drivers yielding at Convent Road to pause as they cross the pedestrian domain, while simultaneously eliminating step-down hazards for wheelchair users and buggies.
While flush kerbs dramatically improve physical accessibility and traffic calming, the removal of the traditional vertical kerb drop-off eliminates a vital physical cue for visually impaired pedestrians, who rely on that step to detect the edge of a live carriageway.
To restore this critical boundary without undertaking heavy excavation, Flexi-tact Guidance tactiles were retrofitted directly along the flush kerb line. The raised profiles of the guidance tactiles provide a distinct, continuous physical border that can be easily detected by a cane or underfoot. Because the Flexi-tact system is manufactured from durable, surface-mounted polyurethane, it was adhered seamlessly to the existing surface, delivering high slip resistance and long-term wear resistance without the ground settlement issues associated with traditional concrete blocks.
To ensure approaching motorists are immediately aware of the pedestrian priority zone at this yield intersection, two sets of Modupost illuminated systems were installed on either side of the Convent Road approach.
The Modupost system delivers exceptional daytime and night-time conspicuity. Its robust, internally illuminated column acts as an unmistakable visual anchor for the crossing point, ensuring drivers yielding from Convent Road or travelling along Daingean Road can identify the school crossing from a distance, even during dark winter mornings and poor weather conditions.
The junction upgrade outside Sacred Heart Catholic School in Tullamore exemplifies modern, inclusive streetscape design. By pairing the powerful visual deterrence of the Modupost illuminated system with the critical physical delineation of Flexi-tact Guidance paving, the local authority has successfully transformed a complex yield intersection into a safe, pedestrian-prioritised active travel corridor for the school community.
