Fianna Fáil Councillor Stephen McKee has called on Meath County Council to take a broader look at how traffic and road safety problems in Julianstown can be addressed, saying the four bypass options currently under consideration may simply move congestion onto surrounding roads.
The South Drogheda and East Meath councillor said any traffic relief scheme should examine wider measures, including improved public transport, new access points to the M1 and the long-planned Bryanstown Link Road, rather than focusing too narrowly on a bypass through the area.
McKee stated: ‘While we absolutely need to address traffic congestion and improve road safety through Julianstown, particularly for school children attending Whitecross S, I am not convinced that the Options that have been presented for a Bypass will
actually deliver a better quality of life for residents of Julianstown and may actually push traffic volume and congestion onto other roads in the locality including Moorechurch, Claristown and Briarleas.’
‘There are more than 22,000 vehicles per day travelling through Julianstown and there is significant traffic congestion through the village at peak commuter times as local residents know only too well. We need to understand why this is the case fully; how much of an issue Toll avoidance is, and whether improving public transport infrastructure in East Meath, such as a new Train Station at Bettystown and a focus on the creation of more local employment can form part of an overall suite of measures to reduce heavy traffic in the area’ continued McKee.
‘I am therefore asking that all options be further explored, such as a link road onto the R150 Duleek-Julianstown road to then access the M1 South of the Toll and/or the development of the Bryanstown Link-Road at Colpe. which remains in the County
Development Plan. This new road would provide a route from Colpe roundabout over to the M1 close to Boann Distillery, essentially taking cars off the Beamore Road and providing an outlet for traffic from South Drogheda, Donacarney and Mornington to directly access the M1 without having to travel through Julianstown.’
‘I believe that the Options currently before us have too narrow a focus. Done right, a Julianstown Traffic Relief Scheme focused on providing another access point onto the M1 motorway could relieve traffic not just from the centre of Julianstown but also
from Duleek and the South Drogheda/Beamore road area.’
‘Many local residents in Julianstown have expressed legitimate concerns about the current process and by the Options presented. There are significant concerns regarding the robustness of the evidence underpinning the Options and whether other alternatives have been fully explored.’
‘Residents can make their views known on the Scheme by making a submission to Meath County Council on or before July 31 st next. Full information can be found on the website www.julianstowntrafficrelief.ie . I encourage everyone to have your say’
concluded McKee.
