Calming works on dangerous road which were due to be completed by the end of November haven't even started

Residents of a dangerous stretch of road outside Kells which has been the scene of countless accident are furious that traffic calming works which were due to be completed by the end of November haven't even started.

In September, residents of the Calaighsown and Balrath area on the Mullingar Road in Kells work were told was due to begin and would be completed by the end of November, but there is still no sign of the work starting.

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.

Hannah Walsh says residents take their lives in their hands every time they leave their homes, because of speeding traffic and poor visibility in the area.

"We are terrified that somebody will be killed".

"We are terribly disappointed. We were told in September that work was about to begin and it would be finished at the end of November."

Earlier this year, Hannah’s thirteen-year-old daughter Molly had a lucky escape when a car crashed into a pillar at the front of their front. Molly had just returned from checking the letterbox outside the gate, just missing the horrific incident by minutes.

It was the second time in six months that a car smashed into the front of Hannah’s house on the treacherous stretch of road.

"We have been waiting for the work to start, looking to see if signs were going up to let people know they were starting but nothing has happened. Nobody has explained why. We are really worried there will be more serious accidents here, particularly with the bad weather. We are very, very annoyed,

Lisa Smith says the situation is extremely dangerous. She has a brother with a disability who is picked up in the mornings by a bus to bring him to a workshop.

"The bus will no longer stop at our gate because it is so dangerous, but stops on a grass verge across the road. My brother is unsteady on his feet and my Mum is elderly so the bus driver and bus escort risk their lives crossing to road to get him and then crossing back with him.

"There have been so many accidents here, it is terrifying. We were delighted to hear the work was going to take place, but we have no idea what happened or why it isn't going ahead."

Cllr Sarah Reilly said she is extremely frustrated at the delay. “I am acutely aware of how annoyed and indeed scared the residents are, due to the number of crashes occurring on their road. I am beyond frustrated at the lack of progress to address this issue.”

Cllr Reilly received correspondence from Meath Co Council which explained that TII/Kildare National Roads Design Office, who will be carrying out the work, are in the process of designing the gateways signage with a view to installing as soon as possible.

"They haven’t confirmed the date as yet.

"The details for the safety works at the two junctions (the Rhine and Boolies) are also being finalised so that a set of documents for pricing can be issued to the contractor and then for approval to TII."