Council appoints consultants to look at connection of Slane and Boyne roads

The provision of a bridge crossing and distributor road connecting the Slane Road to the Boyne Road in Navan, will be assessed at a high level as part of major transport study for Navan.

Meath Co Council has appointed Systra Consultants to to carry out an Area Based Transport Assessment (ABTA) for the town and a bridge and link road will be examined as part of the study.

At a meeting of Navan Municipal Council last week, Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons called on the council to seek funding for the provision of consultants to draw up a plan for a bridge and road, "in an effort to draw traffic away from the town centre and provide safer passage for motorists crossing from one side of town to the other."

He was told this would be looked at as part of the ABTA study, which will include an assessment of transport demand and its associated impacts along with identification of requirements in relation to movement and accessibility.

Cllr Fitzsimons said that much of the congestion in Navan is due to traffic coming through the town rather than around it.

“At the moment, we are in the process of building a bridge over the River Blackwater which will connect the Kells Road to the Ratholdren Road. This is a fantastic project. A project which will take huge volumes of traffic away from the town centre and allow easier and quicker access to and from North Navan and onto the M3.

“Now is the time to plan the next step. Now is the time to plan and design this much needed bridge connecting the Slane Road to the Boyne Road which in turn will connect with Athlumney and the Dublin Road, bringing welcome relief to motorists and residents in these communities.

“As one project finishes, we are then on course to continue onto the next phase rather than waiting years for further development."

Cllr Fitzsimons said that as Navan grows, we need to keep ahead of developments rather than reacting to them after the fact.

"Between feasibility, design and the planning process, this will take time so we need to act now."

He said the bridge is the most important cog of this new transport plan. "It will further enhance more direct and safer routes around the town, rather than through it."

Cllr Tommy Reilly agreed that the bridge was badly needed and said he was disappointed that previous proposals in 2000 were met with strong objections.

Cllr Eddie Fennessy said a bridge over the Boyne was something he had called for over the years.

"Indeed both Padraig and myself made submissions to the county development plan in 2020 calling for same. I welcome the council's response, it's good to see movement at last.

"A new bridge in that area will greatly improve connectivity options in the town and it will relieve congestion problems in both North Navan and in Johnstown which is great news for local residents and businesses. "

Last week's meeting was told the primary objective of the ABTA is to make sure that movement and accessibility of all forms, across all modes of transport, are considered as a key component in the development of areas at a local level. Subject to the findings of this initial high level assessment on the bridge, it is the council's intention to then apply for funding to appoint consultants to examine the future requirements that emerge from the ABTA including the potential case for the bridge crossing and distributor road.