Welcome news..Cllr Eugene Cassidy (second from right) with Joe Fahy, Anna Rooney and Philip Galligan at the Kilberry junction.

Accident blackspot to undergo €1.2m safety overhaul

ANN CASEY
One of Meath's most dangerous junctions is to get a €1.2million overhaul which will see extensive safety and traffic calming measures installed.
Kilberry Cross, the scene of several accidents over the last few years will see the works carried out later this year.
Funding for the work comes from a Specific Improvement Grant, which is provided at locations with a high rate of accidents.
"These grants are for areas that have had the most accidents over the past 14 years," said Cllr Eugene Cassidy.

The Road Safety Authority currently has identified the R162 as having the highest incidence of traffic collisions in County Meath and the area around Kilberry has been the scene of many of those collisions. There are also plans to upgrade the Wilkinstown junction on that road as well as traffic calming works in Nobber and outside Kingscourt.
"This work is great news for Kilberry and the work will start this summer.
"The work will involve realigning the junction, taking the hump off the road, the installation of two footpaths, two bus stops and a pedestrian crossing.
"There will be new street lighting and the narrowing of the junction to slow traffic down and other traffic calming measures.
"The R162 has been the scene of numerous accidents including fatalities and there are also plans to follow the work at Kilberry with a €1.3million scheme at Wilkinstown- this development is not as far advanced in planning as Kilberry," he explained.

The Kilberry Amenity and Heritage Group (KAHG) has welcomed the proposed road improvements scheme.
Joe Fahy, vice-chairperson of KAHG said the scheme would provide not only road improvement measures but would also have traffic and pedestrian safety measures.
"The recent extension to the Boliden Tara Mines Tailings Facility has seen a massive increase in HGVs through the village of Kilberry. 
Indeed, a condition of the planning permission to Tara Mines was that the safety measures at Kilberry Cross would be implemented before further development commenced at the tailings facility.

"The proposed scheme will greatly assist in giving the village back to the community and allow the community to enjoy the amenities of the village and continue to improve those amenities and landscape."
KAHG was founded in 2012 and works to sustainably develop the village of Kilberry and improve local amenities and landscape. 
In 2013, the Group commissioned a five-year action plan which transformed Kilberry with an innovative approach to heritage research and development of the village garden.
This was recognised with numerous awards from Meath Pride of Place and at the All-Ireland Pride of Place awards in 2014, where they were awarded the second best small village in Ireland award.