Julianstown Residents have established the Julianstown Village Association to represent their village and to push for completion of the Julianstown Traffic Relief scheme as quickly as possible.
For more than 40 years residents of Julianstown have sought a permanent solution to the heavy traffic plaguing the heritage village which now sees more than 22,000 vehicles per day using the main street, far in excess of the 8,000 level which Meath County Council has set. Traffic at this level, which is unprecedented in any other village in Ireland, causes serious noise and air pollution and makes it unsafe to move around or cross the road, particularly for children and people with disabilities.
Residents in the wider area are directly affected by serious congestion at peak times, delays to public transport, with commuters forced onto rural roads looking for ways to avoid traffic jams.
Heavy traffic also impacts the rich village heritage which contains an Architectural Conservation area and many protected structures including the distinctive cottages in the village centre.
As the population of East Meath and south Drogheda continues to increase so too will traffic.
In July of this year Meath County Council decided to progress a western bypass of Julianstown and carried out a consultation to select an emerging preferred route which is due to be announced before the end of this year. The scheme will also involve significant public realm works in the village itself with the existing road repurposed as public realm and for walking and cycling.
The association is calling on local commuters, residents committees, and individuals to contact local TDs and Councillors to voice their support on the issue as many are of the opinion that there is no support, putting the project timeline in danger.
Chairperson Fred Logue said:
“I have lived in Julianstown all my life. When I was young it was a quiet area with a small population so we could walk to school and cycle around the area. In the last twenty years the area has transformed with huge housing developments and infrastructure hasn’t kept pace. As this trend continues it is imperative that key infrastructure such as the Julianstown bypass is completed as quickly as possible.”
The association says local groups and individuals are welcome to get in touch and become involved.
