Locals want to shed some light on restored bridge

Despite extensive refurbishment works over two years ago to make Navan’s Old Kilcarn Bridge safe, it still isn't used as a pedestrian link at night because there are no lights in the area.

The historic 500 year old bridge can provide a safe and quick route to the Dublin road bus stop for Johnstown residents and is part of an attractive pedestrian walk, but for a large part of the year it unusable
as it is in complete darkness at
night.
Cllr Sinead Burke was alerted to the problem last week when she went walking with the Johnstown walkers group, where she saw many of the problems that exist in the Johnstown area.
Local resident and community activist Alan Lawes was there to highlight the problems including the lack of lighting on the bridge.
“There was a lot of money invested in that bridge but with no lighting, people aren't using it to get to the Dublin Road.”
Old Kilcarn Bridge was closed to pedestrians in February 2014, amid claims it was in danger of collapsing into the river and following extensive work was reopened in October
2016.
The 500 year old bridge was closed to vehicular traffic nearly 40 years ago, with the opening of a new bridge across the Boyne. Plans to remove the bridge prompted a determined campaign by local to preserve the bridge, which became a popular spot with anglers, walkers and later, commuters using it as a shortcut between Johnstown and the Dublin Road.
Cllr Burke saw the need for more pedestrian crossings on Metges Road during her walk with the local group.
“Driving in a car you see a very different world to what you see walking a round at night,” she said.
“You see all the dangers - including the speed of traffic on Metges
Road.”
Cllr Burke recalls that the very first motion she proposed as a member of Navan Town Council was for the provision of a pedestrian crossing at Metges Road.
There are now proposals to provide a pedestrian crossing close to the bus stop on that road.
“During peak times, traffic is at a standstill on Metges Road with people unable to get out of their estates, but off peak, there is a serious problem with speeding.
Alan Lawes points out that people are afraid to cross the road.
“Hundreds more houses will soon be coming and the volume of traffic will be even greater. We need traffic calming and speed bumps.
“People are coming together now to highlight this, as there is no point doing it after someone gets hurt,” he said.