'Lessons need to be learned' after two years of traffic upheaval in Ashbourne

As the roadworks that have caused huge disruption in Ashbourne for well over two years finally near completion, the local chamber of commerce has said that lessons must be learned by Meath Co Council for future projects.

There is huge relief among businesses in the town that the works, which have taken twice as long as originally estimated, are due to be finished by the end of the month.

Residents who have had to contend with lengthy traffic delays while the works were ongoing are also relieved that the end is in sight.

The active travel scheme to install cycleways and new footpaths along a 2km stretch of the R135 were initially scheduled to take 65 weeks but have been ongoing for two and a half years, driving many shoppers to take their business elsewhere.

Brian Osborne, PRO with Ashbourne Chamber of Commerce, outlined that businesses have suffered greatly because of the traffic and he is appealing to the shoppers who have gone elsewhere to come back to Ashbourne in two weeks time when the road works are finished.

He also says lessons must be learned by Meath Co Council to open up communication lines with residents and businesses earlier, to give better time estimates, to keep them regularly updated and to do works in the evenings and at night as much as possible.

When contacted by the Meath Chronicle, Meath Co Council failed to outline the reasons behind the delay with the works, nor did they give any details of cost overruns associated with the project. When questions were put to them on how much over budget the project went, a spokesperson said: "In terms of the final costs, these are determined in accordance with the procedures in the contract between the employer and the contractor."

Brian Osborne of Ashbourne Chamber of Commerce said: "We are not trying to get into the root causes of the issues that delayed it. We’re not going to get any straight answers. It is what it is, and thank God it is nearly finished. Businesses in the retail park have suffered the most. The Ballybin Road junction works in particular have caused great pain.

"Ashbourne was a great draw for people from Ratoath, Dunshaughlin and Garristown who would all come to do their shopping but that stopped purely because of the traffic and they started to going to Swords and Blanchardstown.

"Now we really need to encourage them back. One thing Ashbourne does have is a lot of free parking and we are appealing to the public- please come back in two weeks time, the works will be finished. We will have a beautiful new carriageway, with new bicycle lanes and new footpaths. It will look very well. The carriageway will be a bit narrower but that is to slow down the traffic so it will be safer. There were always too carriageways and there were still be two carriageways, they are just narrower."

He said the ongoing roadworks had been hard to take for local businesses. "Nick's Fish has really suffered very badly. It was a destination shop for people from outside who came to it and now we are encouraging those people back. The same for Hugh Maguire's, it’s a unique offering. Businesses have had a tough time. They’ve had to cut back their opening hours because the business wasn't there to support them."

Brian also says that lessons must be learned from mistakes with this project just finished before works start between the community centre and the Ninemilestone roundabout and that Meath Co Council must communicate with businesses and residents from a much earlier stage and give regular updates, and also have better estimates on the time it will take.

"They need to bring people with them, not have them against them. If people know what is coming, at least they can make plans.

The works shouldn’t have been as disruptive as they were, night-time works should have been done sooner."

The R135 Cycle Network Scheme Ashbourne involved a 2km stretch from Dunnes Stores to the Pillo Hotel. Apart from the new footpaths and cycleways, it also included undergrounding of utilities, the installation of new traffic signals at the Ballybin, Castle Street and St John's Wood junctions and new public lighting and crossings.

In its October update, dated 3rd October, the Council said: "The final section of the scheme is now being completed. The last of the drainage and underground services are now being installed after which works will commence on the installation of the final road surfacing and road markings.

"The new bus shelter has been installed on the southbound lane beside the Pillo Hotel. Works are advancing well on the new signalised pedestrian crossing north of the Apple Green filling station.

“By the end of October all major construction works will be complete and only minor completion works and snagging will remain. "The last of the public lighting columns have now been installed and are due to be commissioned this month."

“Stop/go systems have been in place between 7pm and 9pm with full road closures from 9pm to 6am two days last week aas well as Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week to facilitate the resurfacing works.