Cllrs back 'most sensible' route to bypass Duleek

The first steps in a long sought-after bypass for the village of Duleek were taken last week when consultants for Meath County Council made a presentation of likely routes to councillors at the Slane electoral area council meeting. The consultants outlined on a map the three possible route options for the bypass. They also gave an indicative line of the bypass and this is the one backed by the councillors. A long process of consultation will now have to be undertaken by the council and the question of the financing of the road will also have to be discussed. The route suggested by the consultants and backed by the councillors would travel along the Duleek to Kilmoon Road, past the cemetery, turning right towards Prioryland-Keenogue, crossing the river Nanny and emerging at the football field on the Duleek-Navan Road. When the road is built, children travelling from the village to the local national school will not encounter the road, the meeting heard. Cllr Jimmy Cudden, who has campaigned for a bypass for the village since his election to Meath County Council in 1979, said the route opted for at last Wednesday's Slane Electoral Area meeting "makes sense as far as we are concerned". He said the other two routes on offer would have entailed bringing the road through built-up areas. "We wanted to keep the road away from populated areas as much as possible," he said, "This is a long sought-after bypass for the village and we have to get it right. "I know the selection of this particular route will be welcomed by the people of Duleek. We have needed a bypass for some time. If we thought traffic conditions in the village were bad when I first started this campaign, it is a 1,000 times worse now. The village is overrun by traffic and there is no peace in trying to cross the street. In fact, the village is grinding to a halt," Cllr Cudden claimed. The Duleek councillor emphasised that this proposed bypass has nothing to do with the proposed Leinster Orbital Route, which is a separate matter, he said. The bypass proposed last week will have to be the subject of widespread consultation and agreement before it is finally passed. Acquisition of certain lands in the Duleek area, to make way for the road, will also be necessary. The independent county councillor said that no timescale had been laid down for construction of the road. "We are a good bit away from that yet. What we have to try to do is get broad agreement in the village on the proposed route. We want people to take a positive attitude to it and I am sure that the very idea of diverting traffic away from the centre of the village will be welcomed by many people," he said. He added that a major campaign of lobbying of political representatives and officials will be needed in order to make financial provision for the bypass. "I, for one, will certainly be banging on a few tables and a few doors to make sure it happens. If we all go forward together on this, it will become a reality sooner rather than later," Cllr Cudden added.