Additional traffic safety measures unveiled for Slane

A series of additional traffic-calming measures for Slane, some of which could be in place before Christmas, were unveiled last week as preparations were underway to put revised plans for a shorter bypass of the village on public display next week. The short-term measures proposed by the council last week includes a 30km/h speed limit, the provision of a high-friction anti-skid surface in the centre of the village, speed cameras, flashing speed warning signs and enhanced signage. However, councillors were told that proposals for a ban on HGVs travelling through the village would be unworkable. Meath County Council's director of infrastructure, Eugene Cummins, outlined plans to Slane area councillors last week for a series of measures designed to improve safety in the village. He said the bypass was the permanent solution to Slane's problems, but these short-term interventions would be put in place in the meantime. He explained that the revised bypass plan, which would include a shorter route linking up with the existing road north of the Drummonds premises, would be cheaper than the route originally proposed, would involve less compulsory purchasing of land and would speed up the process. Mr Cummins told councillors that banning HGVs was not a viable option and they would instead focus their energies on planning for and delivering the bypass and improving safety in the meantime. The speed limit in Slane will be reduced to 30km/h and an anti-skid surface will be installed in the centre of the village. The council is also looking at installing variable signs, which flash up an alert if vehicles are speeding and will also examine the possibility of having traffic signals activated by vehicles breaking the speed limit. Other measures under consideration include the provision of speed cameras and improved signage and road markings. Mr Cummins said any diversion put in place in order to ban HGVs from the village would have serious impacts on residents along those routes. There would also be issues with junction capacity along any diversion and there was the possibility of transferring safety issues to other parts of the road network. "There has to be a reasonable non-tolled alternative route available," he said. John Ryle of the Slane bridge Action Group said that no traffic-calming measures would stop a runaway truck. "The bypass is the only solution and it should have been seen to long ago," he said. Cllr Wayne Harding, however, welcomed the measures proposed by the council. "There seems to have been a lot of work put into this and a seriousness of intent to acknowledge the problems in Slane," he said. Cllr Harding said the revised route of the road would require less CPOs and would cost less than the original plan.