€500k safety works agreed for Mullagh Cross blackspot

Safety works on one of Meath's most dangerous junctions can begin following the recent announcement of Regional and Local Road Allocations.

The junction of the R156 and R125 at Mullagh Cross, between Dunboyne and Summerhill, which has been the scene of countless accidents has been allocated €500,000 for the works which will see a major realignment and safety measures.

The proposed development will include the realignment of approximately 210m of the R125 northeast of the Mullagh Cross junction and of approximately 300m of the R156 east of the Mullagh Cross junction through a greenfield site. Road safety improvements will be added along the R156 .

It will also include installation of new road pavement construction and earthworks along with new access arrangements for one residential property and provision for agricultural entrances.

The work will also include associated drainage infrastructure, boundary treatments, surfacing works, road marking, traffic signage and landscaping.

The project will come as a huge relief to local residents, who have warned that lives will be lost if safety measures are not implemented.

There were three accidents within seven days at the junction in 2024, each necessitating the deployment of emergency services and resulting in multiple injuries.

Residents have spoken of experiencing multiple near misses because of very poor visibility at the cross and compared crossing the junction to “a game of Russian roulette.”

Two years ago a car burst into flames following an accident and just days before there were two accidents within 12 hours.

The junction, where the Dunboyne-Summerhill (R156) and Kilcock-Dunshauglin (R125) roads intersect is a busy one, and residents have spoken of the dangers of using the junction.

One man said he narrowly avoided collisions on multiple occasions while trying to listen for oncoming traffic from the Summerhill direction, where visibility is zero.

“Crossing this junction feels like a game of Russian roulette. I have been incredibly lucky not to have been injured, but I can no longer rely on luck to ensure my family's safety,” he said.

Other Meath projects to receive funding under the allocations announced last week include Newtownmoyaghy Safety Improvement - €50,000, R162 Navan to Kingscourt Road (Lisnagrew) - €50,000, R108 L16111 Junction Safety Scheme at Beymore - €150,000, Major Bridge Rehabilitation Stage 1 review - €50,000 and R155 Curragha - €75,000.