Over €3m for roads, cycleways and footpath upgrades in Meath

Ratoath, Grange Kiltale and Laytown included in list of areas to benefit from NTA funding

Roads, footpaths and cycleways around Meath will receive major overhauls in the coming months following the allocation €3,105,000 to Meath County Council under the Stimulus Programme 2020.

The Ratoath electoral area is the big winner with an allocation of €1,220,000 for work on the R154 in the townlands of Batterjohn, DerryPatrick, Grange and Kiltale areas, and €490,000 for work in Ratoath village.

The funding from the National Roads Authority will see 38 projects throughout the county undertaken in 2020. They include new footpaths, pedestrian crossings, resurfacing works and the reconstruction of defective footpaths and cycleways.

The work on the R154 will involve the provision of right turning lanes to a number of local roads, the European Commission Offices and Kiltale GAA Club to improve road safety, and to reduce delays for traffic and public transport on the Trim Road. The proposed works will also include traffic calming, provision of two bus stops with bicycle parking and shelters, two pedestrian crossings and improved junctions.

The works in Ratoath Village include the reconstruction of defective footpaths and cycle tracks on the main road and resurfacing of Cemetery Road.

There are also proposals to improve cycle lanes in Clonee village.

Ratoath's Cllr Nick Killian welcomed the allocation.

"It will assist in very neccessary works for footpaths and road resurfacing in Ratoath which I have been seeking for the past five years," he said.

"I want to particularly welcome the footpath from Arkle House, run by Ratoath Independent Living where residents with varying disabilities live, to the village. Wheelchair accessibility is essential there and will make the village more accessible.

"We have been seeking funding for the Cemetery Road for years, It is in a bad state of disrepair on a very heavily used road and the work is crucial before winter."

Works proposed for the Laytown/Bettystown area include pedestrian crossings at Mornington, Donacarney and Bettystown Square, as well as works on footpaths and cycle tracks in Bettytown village, Painstown/Colpe Cross and Seafields, Laytown.

Cllr Stephen McKee said: "I am delighted to receive confirmation from Meath County Council that €40,000 has been allocated by the Department of Transport for the provision of a new footpath and cycleway between Woodgrange and Colpe Cross. I am particularly pleased that this project has received funding as I have been lobbying both the Council and the Department about the need for a footpath at this location over the last few years. This is great news for residents in Woodgrange as soon they will be able to safely access Southgate Shopping Centre by foot.

"Funding has also been allocated towards the provision of a pedestrian crossing on Church Road, Donacarney, at Mornington Park and also at Harry’s Mornington, work on which will start very shortly.

"These pedestrian crossings will be of benefit to many local families. A large number of families in the area had contacted me with their concerns. There are currently no safe crossings along both the Church Road, Donacarney and the Garra Road into Mornington.

"I will keep the pressure on to ensure these projects are completed as soon as possible and I wish to thank Meath County Council for their support on this matter," said Cllr McKee.

The works to be funded in the Navan area include pedestrian crossings on the Rathaldron Road and Dan Shaw Road and footpath works at Kilcarn Court and Dean Cogan Terrace, as well as work to the estate access and footpaths at St Oliver's Park, Kentstown.

In Trim Municipal area, the works include footpath improvements at Summerhill Road and Navangate Street, Trim, as well as in Summerhill village and Enfield. A presestrian crossing is proposed for Lackanash, Trim and the Ribbontail Lane in Longwood is to be surfaced .

Funding has been provided for footpaths in Kells, the walkway at Rockfield Green and pedestrian crossings at the Square in Oldcastle and Church View, Athboy.

The stimulus package also provides for new footways near the Rath roundabout and Castleway entrance in Ashbourne, courtesy crossings and paving at Castleway and Deerpark, footpath works at the Killegland and Hunters Lane areas of Ashbounre, and drainage and footpath works at Ashbourne North near the filling station. The Stamullen to Gormanston Road will also be resurfaced.