McKee pushing for ‘dangerous’ Beamore Cross junction inclusion in safety measure works for 2025

Road safety measures need to implemented urgently at one of the area's most “dangerous” junctions according to a local councillor.

Fianna Fail Cllr Stephen McKee put forward a motion for safety measures and government funding for Beamore Cross at a recent Laytown/Bettystown Municipal District Meeting.

In its response Meath Co Council said it had put forward an application to the Department of Transport for Funding for 2024 to look at realigning the R108/L-16111 junction at Beamore however this scheme was not included in 2024 grant funding.

They added that they intend to apply for funding again in 2025 as a result of further conversations with the department. The results of this application will not be confirmed until early 2025.

“It is disappointing that the scheme wasn't included this year, I think we need to push hard for it to be included in government funding in 2025 and I'm happy to see that there will be an application put in by the council for funding in 2025,” said McKee.

“The Beamore Cross junction is in my view probably the most dangerous junction in the MD, it is certainly probably the busiest with peak time traffic,” he added.

“The whole road needs a complete overhaul and road safety measures right along from Mount Hanover Junction all the way over to Colpe. Colpe Cross in particular has seen many incidents over the last couple of years and residents there are very concerned.

“The Road Safety Officer visited the junction recently and met local people and they talked about the increasing volumes of traffic on that road. I urge Meath Co Council to put in place the necessary engineering solutions for that junction whether it it a roundabout or whatever measures are needed.

“It is going on a long time and it is only getting more dangerous.”

Sinn Fein Cllr Maria White also supported the motion.

“It is disappointing that funding wasn't granted for 2024 but in the interim if there are measures the council can take to improve safety it would be welcomed,” she said.

Fine Gael Cllr Sharon Tolan pointed out that visibility at night time was particularly poor.

“At night it is completely dark and it is even hard to see the junction as you are approaching it,” said Tolan.

“Something needs to be done to even light up the area that can be done with our own budget rather than waiting for the department or the NTA to fund a safety scheme,” she added.

“There are measures there like junction definition posts available to us, it would improve the conditions a small bit and it would be a start.”

Junction definition posts are high visibility green and white posts designed to delineate side roads in rural areas

Fianna Fail Cllr Wayne Harding said:

“We have all had representations in relation to this junction. I think is is very important that we prioritise this in the workshop that has been allocated to each municipal district.

“ I think if we are agreeing a work programme and the CE has made provision for all municipal districts to prioritise works, I think this is one that should be right there with Donore Village and whatever else we might prioritise in that workshop.”