Reconstruction work on Navan Road in Trim to start in August

Work is due to start next month on a project to reconstruct the Navan Road approach into Trim, which has been in a poor state of repair for some years. The works, which are being funded by the Department of Transport, will see the stretch of road between Newtown junction and the traffic lights at the Trim ring road completely reconstructed, together with new footpaths, a cycle lane and public lighting. Funding of just over €1m has been approved by the Department of Transport following an application from Meath County Council. Preliminary works have begun in the last few days to identify where services are but it will be next month before reconstruction works begin. The contract is due to be awarded by the end of the month and it is expected that the works will take approximately four months to complete. As part of the upgrade works, new footpaths will be constructed on both sides of the road and the long-await ed footpath to the Trim Motor Park will be provided, addressing safety for pedestrians. A cycle lane on the south side of the carriageway will also be included in the works. Local county councillor Jimmy Fegan said: "The funding is most welcome. This entrance to the town is the second most important entrance and almost all the other entrances are in hand or have been reconstructed. The road surface is poor along that stretch for the past number of years." Cllr Fegan said it had been hoped that this work would have been delivered as part of local area plan for further development on zoned land in that area but that, with the downturn, this was not going to happen. "Meath County Council sought funding in the absence of there being any realistic chance of that work being done within the LAP. The request was made to the Department of Transport and the minister saw good reason for the department to fund it, and this is very welcome," he said. Cllr Fegan said he did not know at this stage whether the road would be closed and said it was likely that there would be local access only for a period of time during the project.