Wholesale confusion for motorists after Navan-Athboy road closed

The closure of the Navan to Athboy road for the next three months has led to angry condemnation of the diversions in place and calls for pothole repairs on the Dunderry Road. The lack of information for motorists who are unfamiliar with the area has been described as scandalous, while concern has been expressed about the condition of the minor roads which are being used by motorists as alternative routes. The Navan-Athboy Road has been closed to through traffic from Clarke's Cross to its junction with the Athboy/Kells Road to facilitate road reconstruction and road resurfacing works and the work is due to continue to Friday 27th May. The closure, which came into effect last week, has led to complaints that diversion signs erected by Meath County Council are confusing, are diverting people onto a tolled road and are diverting traffic along a lengthy route through Kells to get to Athboy. Concern has also been expressed about the condition of the roads around Dunderry and Rath Chairn which are being used by motorists who know the area. Councillor Eugene Cassidy said that the Navan/Dunderry and Dunderry/Athboy Roads are in a terrible condition. "People are using these roads as a deversion, while the main road is closed, but the potholes leave it very dangerous," he said. Cllr Cassidy warned that the roads would disintegrate unless potholes were repaired and he called for the reinstatement of the roads in question. Cllr Tommy Reilly called for an immediate upgrading of the signage in the area. "The situation is scandalous and unreal. People are driving around bad roads, not knowing where they are going," he said. "There is no proper information and people are getting lost. It is not as if this is just some rural road, where the locals know their way around. This is a major route to the west and northwest and people are getting lost," he said. He pointed out that traffic is being diverted onto a tolled road as they drive out from Navan to Athboy and then there are no further signs or information on where to go after that. "Locals may be able to get by, but anyone unfamiliar with the area will get completely lost. "I am very, very annoyed," he said. Cllr Reilly pointed out that when motorists get lost, they end up driving on roads that are in a dreadful condition and which could end up damaging their cars. Meath County Council's official diversions for the duration of the work involve routing traffic through Kells, while residents and propert-holders are being facilitated with local access throughout the closure period. A spokesperson for Meath County Council said that the N51 Navan to Athboy Road is a national secondary route with high-volume traffic. "When a diversion is required for road repairs, it is necessary to divert high volumes of traffic onto a route of a similar standard for the safety of all concerned. The rural routes are not suitable for high-volume traffi, especially heavy goods vehicles, so the signs are in place to encourage motorists to use the national route. "However, it is possible to use the rural roads as well, and many people who know the area are diverting via Dunderry or Bohermeen," she said.