Safety upgrade at Balrath to be completed within weeks
Relief is on the way for residents of a dangerous stretch of road outside Kells with traffic calming works about to begin.
Work on the Mullingar Road at Balrath outside Kells expected to be completed by the end of November.
The area has been the scene of countless accidents and near misses as well as at least two fatal accidents. It was also the scene of a recent accident in which a young woman was badly injured and a local woman was lucky she wasn't killed when a car crashed into her gate just moments before she went to open it.
At last week's meeting of Kells Municipal Council, Cllr Michael Gallagher called on Meath Co Council to install traffic calming measures on the N52 road at Balrath and was told the works would be going ahead. He was also told Meath County Council have engaged with An Garda Síochána in relation to the enforcement of the 60km/h speed limit at this location.
Cllr Gallagher said the road was a “death trap” and expressed disappointment that funding had not been made available for a footpath to be extended to Rhine Cross.
“We have been aware that this is a dangerous stretch of road for over 20 years but very little has happened. It is frightening to walk along that road - an absolute nightmare.”
Cllr Sarah Reilly welcomed the announcement and said there had been a recent serious accident in the area.
“I was out there last week and one of the requests they made was for vehicle activated signage, as it has had a positive impact on speeding in other areas.
“I want to pay tribute to the residents who campaigned so hard for safety measures.”
Cllr Sean Drew welcomed news of the works but he requested that speed vans operate in the area.
Cllr Mike Bray said it was great news “But it was a pity it took so long. There was another accident there recently.”
Following the meeting, Cllr Gallagher said he cannot understand why funding was not made available by the NTA for a footpath.
“People walking that road, or driving out onto it from their homes are taking their lives in their hands. It has been a nightmare for people trying to raise their children there,” he said.
Residents of the Mullingar Road in Kells say they are taking their lives in their hands every time they leave their homes, because of speeding traffic and poor visibility in the area. Residents of the Caliaghstown and Balrath areas are terrified that somebody will be killed and have spoken about the frequency and severity of the accidents that have occurred on that stretch of road.
They have renewed their calls for traffic calming measures following a recent accident in which a young woman was badly injured and a local woman was lucky she wasn't killed when a car crashed into her gate just moments before she went to open it.
Fears have been expressed for the safety of young people waiting for school buses on the road and for local drivers leaving their homes who have very poor visibility.