Report Paul Murphy
A comprehensive briefing by Meath County Council officials on the provision of bus stops and major road projects in Navan received an enthusiastic welcome from local councillors at their monthly municipal district meeting.

The briefing was given by senior executive engineer Cormac Ross and executive engineers Paul O’Brien and Shane Casserly and covered topics like bus infrastructure in Navan, updates on the Navan to Trim Pathfinder scheme, update on Flower Hill project, an update on Martha’s Bridge to Circular Road cycle route, update on Convent Road to Metges Road cycle and pedestrian route, Contract 5 of the Navan 2030 contract, the Beechmount to Balreask Manor cycle route.

Aontu Cllr Emer Toibin enquired if a bus stop planned for Academy Street was “set down only” or could that situation change, an official replied that it might be set down. Additional bus stops were provided for in the town.

TRIMGATE ST

Plans for an Active Travel Project for Trimgate Street were also discussed. A design fore the street was now complete, an official said. Documents would be prepared for submission to the National Transport Authority in order to get approval for a Part 8 application. Documents would be sent to the Nta in the coming weeks. A planning application would be made in the second quarter of this year.

In an update on the R161 Navan-Trim Pathfinder scheme the officials said that work was ongoing on the final design alterations and a preliminary design would be available in quarter two of this year. The “bad news” was that there was no funding allocation for that scheme. The council had been all geared up for the scheme but the funding was not there.

FLOWERHILL

Giving a progress on a project for Flower Hill, the councillors heard that the original plan was that the scheme would run from the Round O roundabout, down Flower Hill to Poolboy Bridge to link up with the new bridge at Kentstown Road. There were certain constraints on Flower Hill including the gradient and the number of vehicle access points so the officials were looking at a number of options.

They were looking at upgrading cycle facilities from the N51 at Round O to the fire station junction. That would include upgrading of the Ratholdron Road junction to a “cycle-friendly junction” . It also involved the potential removal of a traffic lane over the Blackwater Bridge which would facilitate cycle and pedestrian measures. Bus stops and a bus lane would be included on the N51. The council would be engaging with Nta and Tii on this. The Flower Hill project was not straightforward and there was still a lot of work to be done.

MARTHA’S BRIDGE

On the Martha’s Bridge to Circular Road cycle and pedestrian scheme, the final design was now complete and council officials were now working through the tender documentation on that in advance of going to tender. The tender process would be complete at the end of quarter two with work to commence at the end of quarter three.

CONVENT ROAD-METGES ROAD

On the Convent Road-Metges Road cycle and pedestrian scheme the councillors heard that the council carried out a non-statutory consultation scheme with property owners along the route and there was “general support” for the scheme. There would be some land acquisition, with 30 or so property owners affected. That could cause some challenges for the scheme going forward, particularly in relation to funding.

The Mayor Cllr Eddie Fennessy said there was a great lot of work going on in the town. Independent Cllr Alan Lawes wondered whether another avenue of funding for the Navan-Trim Pathfinder scheme might be internal council funding. He also hoped a bus stop would be provided at Dunville.

PATHFINDER SCHEME ESTIMATE €5 Million

Asked by Cllr Toibin for a cost estimate on the Pathfinder scheme, the officials replied that the most recent estimate was €5 million. Asking about the Flower Hill scheme, she was told that there would be a cycle facility from Round O to New Lane. On the Pathfinder scheme Cllr Francis Deane said there were not many stakeholders involved so the project should be straightforward.