New Navan Road open to traffic
ANN CASEY AND HOLLY ALDER
The new road and bridge over the Blackwater river in Navan opened to traffic this morning (Tuesday).
The Local Distributor Road 4 (LDR4), linking the Kells and Ratholdren Roads is expected to be a game changer for traffic in the town.
Traffic rolled onto the new road at 10.30am, but the official opening ceremony will take place on Friday at 2pm.
The 1.15km roadway is predicted to reduce traffic congestion throughout the town, particularly in north Navan and at the N51 Slane /Ratholdren Road junction by 25 per cent.
Until now, the only route into Navan from the north of the town is via the inner relief road, linking the Round O with the fire station.
The new road also provides two additional access points to Blackwater Park
The new road is 1.15km in length, consisting of two 3.25m wide lanes, a two metre wide raised one-way cycle track on both sides and 2.5m wide footpaths on both sides.
The proposed alignment commences to the north with a four-arm signalised junction on the L3409 Ratholdren Road replacing the existing Clonmagadden Road T-junction.
The work, which took place over two years, saw two hectares shaved off the edge of Blackwater Park and the demolition of the Department of Agriculture and the Navan Probation & Welfare Service building on the Kells Road, where the existing roundabout was replaced with a signalised junction.
The new road runs south from the Ratholdren Road across a small area of woodland and agricultural land. It then turns south east and follows broadly the western boundary of Blackwater Park.
From here, the alignment runs south and across the River Blackwater almost perpendicularly. It continues southbound to the east of the residential properties at Blackwater Park.
The Mayor of Navan, Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons said he was delighted to see it opening.
"Traffic was moving very nicely. I was at Blackwater Park and then I was able to turn left and take the new road, it made such a difference.
"It will ease congestion especially at peak times. We have been looking for this for a number of years It will be a welcome relief to the community. I walked it the other day and the spec is fantastic. It will make life easier for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.
"The new entrances to the park will also mean less traffic travelling from south to north Navan.
"Navan is an expanding town. There are thousands of houses on the Slane, Ratholdren and Proudstown roads, as well as schools and the swimming pool. This will help ease congestion.
"There will still be traffic problems but this will go a long way towards easing it."
Cllr Eddie Fennessy said he was delighted to see the bridge open at last. "Connectivity options for North Navan residents will be greatly enhanced with ease of access to the motorway. I’m also hopeful that congestion problems on the Ratholdren Road will be a thing of the past."
Sandra Ennis who lives on the opposite end of the road to the junction who came out to see the opening of the road said that "the residents surrounding the area including myself are delighted - it's going to be handy for us getting to work and really alleviate the traffic. I leave for work at quarter to eight to be in for half eight in Navan due to the traffic or I wouldn't make it to work on time. This new opening is going to help with the traffic at peak times."
Teresa Harrison who was also out walking on the new road said that "most importantly there's a new cycle path and a safe footpath for pedestrians to get in and out of the town centre without a car."
The works were carried out by John Craddock, the same contractor who is currently carrying out the Navan 2030 works in the town centre.