Seamus Farrelly took this shot of Julianstown during the first lockdown. Normal service sees 20,000 vehicles a day pass through.

Traffic-calming measures for Julianstown

An update report on the traffic calming scheme for Julianstown presented at April’s Laytown/Bettystown Council meeting identified a number of strategies to improve traffic management in the area ahead of an application being submitted to An Bord Pleanála

The scheme extends between the existing gateways to the north and south of the village and includes the junctions of the R132 with the Laytown Road, the Duleek Road and the Ballygarth Road and involves traffic calming of the R132 through widening of the footways, narrowing the carriageway, reducing junction radii and improving the bus stops and pedestrian crossings.

It stated that Meath County Council wanted to change the perception of the road, turning it into a street incorporating pedestrian and cycling facilities.

Traffic has been a major problem in Julianstown stemming back to its location at a principal crossing point of the River Nanny, making Julianstown a key location on the road northwards from Dublin.

Despite construction of the M1 motorway, traffic through the village continues to be relatively heavy and fast.

The report stated that traffic counts indicate that 20,000 vehicles drive through Julianstown each weekday. This volume of traffic can be linked to housing growth in south Drogheda, Laytown and Bettystown, as well as the location of road tolls on the M1, encouraging some drivers to take an alternative route through the village.

The proposed traffic calming scheme includes a raised pedestrian crossing on the R132 just south of the R132/R150 Laytown road junction, a raised table at the R132/R150 Duleek road junction, a raised pedestrian crossing on the R132 just south of the R132/R150 Duleek road junction, a raised table at the junction of the R132 and beside Whitecross NS.

A new shared surface will be created (for pedestrians and cyclists) along the east side of the R132 along with additional footpaths to the west side of the R132, bus Stop upgrades, additional kerbing, signage, road markings, landscaping and ancillary works.