The Drogheda Cycling Group has come up with some exciting proposals for one of the town’s traffic black spots, the dual carriageway, which has been a safety hazard for pedestrians and cyclists ever since it first opened in the 1970’s.
The dual carriageway cuts many thousands of people living in estates on the South of Drogheda off from the town centre. People from Ballsgrove, Rathmullen, Highfield, St. Finian’s Park and elsewhere must risk life and limb crossing four lanes of traffic on their walk into town.
But we’ve known that fir years – back in 2012 Socialist Party Councillor, the late Frank Gallagher, suggested that a pedestrian bridge be built over the dual carriageway to enable pedestrians and cyclists to access the town centre in safety and to reduce the numbers choosing to drive into town.
Needless to say Frank’s suggestion fell on deaf ears but attitudes have changed in the intervening years and the emphasis is now on reducing the number of cars on our roads and making cycling and walking a safer option.
To this end The Drogheda Cycling Group launched its proposals for the dual carriageway at a public meeting in the Barbican Centre on Monday night.
Central to the Group’s proposals is the reallocation of road space in Ireland’s largest town to encourage more Active Travel and Public Transport.
Chairperson Noel Hogan said: “Anyone who has been stuck in rush hour traffic in Drogheda can see clearly that the town is being swamped by cars. It isn’t bicycles that are clogging up Drogheda’s roads every morning and evening – it’s cars.
“Everyone can see how traffic is reduced when the schools are closed. We need to provide alternatives to car use in Ireland’s largest town so children in particular will be able to cycle safely to school. At a stroke that would eliminate a huge proportion of the rush hour traffic”.
“Our proposals would see space freed up on the dual carriageway for cyclists and pedestrians, making Drogheda a healthier and safer town. Drogheda has been bypassed for almost twenty years by the M1 motorway – we are out of time and out of excuses”.
The group’s Secretary Anthony Murphy (Green Party Rep in Drogheda) said: “I think the proposals put forward by the Drogheda Cycling Group are excellent and would breathe fresh life into our town. The town is choked up with traffic and this is discouraging people from visiting the centre of our town.
“What we need is safe active travel measures that connect the Train Station to the heart of our town, this proposal would go a long way in achieving this.
“The experience in other towns around Europe is that if you build active travel infrastructure then motor traffic volumes will be reduced. If we are to meet our Net Zero ambition then we cannot procrastinate on these measures, other towns around the country have embraced active travel and Drogheda is being left behind.
“I would love to see Louth County Council run with these proposals and incorporate them into their vision for active travel in Drogheda.”
For more infrmation abou the Drogheda Cycling Group see droghedacycling.ie
