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IPL group details the installation of Pencil bollards, Midustar Belisha beacons, and Flexitact blister tactile paving outside Gaelscoil na Laochra in Birr, Co. Offaly.
Managing vehicular traffic and protecting vulnerable road users around educational facilities requires targeted traffic calming, clear pedestrian crossings, and dedicated cycling infrastructure. Outside Gaelscoil na Laochra in Birr, County Offaly, an integrated safety scheme has been deployed to create a secure environment for pupils, parents, and pedestrians during peak drop-off and pick-up periods.
The scheme incorporates child-friendly visual demarcation, illuminated pedestrian crossing assets, and tactile accessibility solutions to support active travel and inclusive street design.
To prevent pavement mounting and clearly designate pedestrian walkways near the school entrance, vibrant Pencil bollards have been installed along the kerbside:
Visual Impact: Designed in a distinctive, colourful pencil profile, these bollards provide an engaging visual cue to motorists that they are approaching an active school zone, encouraging lower vehicle speeds.
Uncompromising Safety: Crafted from X-Last polyurethane, the Pencil bollard provides exceptional impact protection, significantly reducing the risk of injury to both vehicles and pedestrians, especially children. It surpasses EN-12767 passive safety standards.
Socketed Foundation: Each unit is installed using an RS76 RETENTION SYSTEM ground socket. This ensures that any bollard damaged by vehicle contact can be quickly replaced without breaking up the surrounding concrete or disrupting the school footpath.
A designated pedestrian crossing provides a safe route across the carriageway directly outside the school grounds. The crossing is anchored by Midustar Belisha beacons:
High-Visibility Lighting: The robust Midustar beacons deliver high-intensity, energy-efficient illumination to ensure the crossing point remains clearly visible to drivers in all weather and lighting conditions.
RS140 Socket Installation: The beacon posts are installed in RS140 RETENTION SYSTEM ground sockets. This allows for rapid replacement or electrical maintenance without the need for prolonged road openings or civils work outside the school gate.
Dedicated cycle lanes run along both sides of the roadway to encourage active travel to and from the school. To ensure seamless accessibility and protect visually impaired pedestrians, Flexitact blister tactile paving is installed along the adjacent footpaths:
Tactile Warning Surface: The raised blister profile provides a distinct underfoot and cane-detectable warning, alerting visually impaired pedestrians to crossing points and the boundary between footpaths and active cycle paths.
Durable Surface Application: Flexitact units offer excellent adhesion and slip resistance, maintaining their colour and tactile integrity under heavy foot traffic.
The safety infrastructure installed at Gaelscoil na Laochra demonstrates how modern street furniture, intelligent socket foundations, and accessibility surfaces work together to protect vulnerable road users. By combining Pencil bollards, Midustar beacons in RETENTION SYSTEM sockets, and Flexitact blister paving, the local authority has established a safe, accessible, and welcoming environment for the entire school community.
