'No to another bypass' ... Julianstown residents want all Traffic Relief Scheme options explored

Julianstown residents call on Meath County Council to pause its Traffic Relief Scheme until all alternative options are explored but are united in saying...

A NEW community campaign opposing plans for another bypass of Julianstown is calling on Meath County Council to pause its Julianstown Traffic Relief Scheme until all alternative options have been fully assessed and the evidence underpinning the project is made publicly available.

The campaign, 'Yes to Julianstown Traffic Relief, No to Another Bypass', says it fully supports measures to reduce traffic congestion and improve road safety in the village but believes the current process has become too focused on developing a bypass rather than examining all possible solutions.

Around 150 people attended a public meeting organised by the campaign at the CityNorth Hotel last Monday evening, where residents, farmers, business owners and elected representatives gathered to discuss the scheme.

Campaign spokesperson Emma Haran said the group supports meaningful traffic relief but wants the process to be transparent, evidence-based and compliant with the principles of the national Transport Appraisal Framework.

"We support solving Julianstown's traffic problems. We support faster and better access to the M1 for East Meath and Drogheda," she said.

"What we are asking for is a process that objectively considers every reasonable option before arriving at a preferred solution. The people of Julianstown deserve confidence that the outcome is driven by evidence, not by assumption."

The campaign has questioned why improved access to the M1 via the R150 and other routes was discounted, arguing that existing infrastructure could be adapted to provide additional motorway access within minutes of Julianstown without the need for another bypass.

Members also expressed concern that a new bypass would divide the community, impact homes, businesses and working farms and damage wildlife and the village's heritage.

Among the campaign's main concerns is what it describes as a flaw in the current public consultation survey. While respondents are first asked whether they support a bypass, those who answer "No" are still required to rank their preferred bypass routes.

Speaking to the Meath Chronicle, Ms Haran said this risked giving a misleading impression of public opinion.

"If someone has clearly said they don't want another bypass, they shouldn't then have to choose which bypass route they prefer," she said.

"We're not saying do nothing. We absolutely want traffic relief for Julianstown, but we want every realistic option to be considered before a decision is made."

The campaign has also questioned findings from the project's traffic assessment suggesting that only around 10 per cent of vehicles travelling through Julianstown are avoiding the M1 toll.

Ms Haran said that if this figure is correct, it represents a significant change from the long-held understanding of traffic patterns through the village and should be fully explained before the project progresses.

The group is calling on Meath County Council to publish the evidence and methodology used to assess and discount alternatives, explain how the 10 per cent figure was reached and pause progression of the scheme until the information has been made publicly available.

Local Fianna Fáil councillor Stephen McKee has also questioned the four bypass options currently under consideration, saying he is not convinced they will provide the best long-term solution.

"While we absolutely need to address traffic congestion and improve road safety through Julianstown, particularly for school children attending Whitecross National School, I am not convinced that the options that have been presented for a bypass will actually deliver a better quality of life for residents of Julianstown and may actually push traffic volume and congestion onto other roads in the locality, including Moorechurch, Claristown and Briarleas," he said.

Cllr McKee said more than 22,000 vehicles pass through Julianstown every day and believes a broader range of measures should be examined.

He is calling for all options to be explored, including a link road connecting the R150 Duleek-Julianstown Road to the M1 south of the toll plaza, as well as the proposed Bryanstown Link Road at Colpe, which remains in the Meath County Development Plan.

He said the Bryanstown Link Road would provide a connection from the Colpe Roundabout to the M1 near Boann Distillery, taking traffic off the Beamore Road and giving motorists from South Drogheda, Donacarney and Mornington direct access to the motorway without having to travel through Julianstown.

"I believe that the options currently before us have too narrow a focus. Done right, a Julianstown Traffic Relief Scheme focused on providing another access point onto the M1 motorway could relieve traffic not just from the centre of Julianstown but also from Duleek and the South Drogheda/Beamore Road area," he said.

The public consultation on the Julianstown Traffic Relief Scheme remains open until 31st July, with members of the public invited to make submissions to Meath County Council.