New link between Clonmagadden Road and Kells Road could be in place in three years

ANN CASEY
A new road which would bring welcome relief to the traffic congestion in north Navan could be in place in as little as three years.
The new distributor Road linking the Clonmagadden Road with the Kells Road is expected to go to planning shortly, with a possible start date of 2020.
The preferred route will encroach on Blackwater Park, shaving two hectares off the edge of the amenity and will continue through the site of the old OPW building and emerge at the existing roundabout on the Kells Road.
At a meeting of Navan Municipal District Council just before Christmas, there was broad support for the proposed road, which will take traffic from the North of the town, travelling towards the Kells Road or motorway, away from the centre of the town.
Three potential route corridors for the proposed new road were considered earlier this year, but have now been narrowed down to one provisional route.
Councillors heard that work could begin on the project in 2020 and would take 18 months to complete.
Councillors were told by Colin Acton of consultants AECOM that the route would open up pedestrian and cycling access to Blackwater Park from the centre of the town.
The existing roundabout will be replaced with a four armed signal controlled junction.
Cllr Tommy Reilly welcomed the proposal. “It will ease congestion and also improve access to Blackwater Park to the town centre”.
Cllr Sinead Burke acknowledged that the road would relieve traffic congestion, but she was “uncomfortable with taking some of the park land.”
“There are 27 hectares in the park and you looking at using two hectares,” she said.
Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons said the road was very welcome.
“It will alleviate traffic on that side of town and the sooner the better,” he said.
Mr Acton told the councillors that preliminary design was now taking place on the project which will go before An Bord Pleanala in January.
“Advance works, detailed design and procurement will take around 12 months and an oral hearing would take six to nine months,” he said.
Construction would take 18 months.
Mr Acton said there would be two new pedestrian and cycle accesses to the park. The new roadway would run 40metres away from the circular walkway and there would be landscaping.
Director of services, Kevin Stewart said the route involved compromises and would bring the park much closer to the centre of town. He said a draft plan was being prepared for the long term development of the park and progress was being made on providing floodlights and toilets.
At the moment, the only route into Navan from the North of the town is via the inner relief road, linking the Round O with the fire station and this route is a nightmare in the mornings with lengthy tailbacks on the Rathaldron Road, as well as the Proudstown Road and the Slane Road.