First phase of Navan-Kells roundabout removal will begin next week
Motorists in Navan can expect delays over the coming months as work beings on a new signalised junction at the Kells Road Roundabout in Navan.
Major upgrade works are due to take place at the junction of the R147/N51 roads, where the new Local Distributor Road 4 meets the Kells Road.
The works include the removal of the existing roundabout sculpture, installation of services, construction of off road cycleway and footpaths, new road layout, road surfacing works and installation of new signalised junction.
The work is due to start on the 17th February 2025 and will be completed in phases. Traffic management will be in place until mid July.
The first phase will involve the removal of the roundabout and island and surfacing. This will be carried out at night-time between 8pm to 6am.
The next phase will include road crossings, which will also take place at night from 8pm to 6am.
Work will then take place on the Northwest footpath/cycle lane, followed by the Northeast walking and cycling infrastructure and then the Southeast and Southwest footpath/cycle lanes.
While the first phases will be carried out at night between the 8pm-6am from the 17th to 28th February, the remaining phases are expected to be completed during normal daytime working hours.
The new junction is part of the construction of the LDR4 link road that will cross the River Blackwater linking Ratholdren Road to the Navan-Kells road. Works began on the new road and bridge during the summer of 2024 and are expected to take 18 months. The council says the scheme is “currently expected to be completed by Q4 of 2025.”
The Mayor of Navan, Cllr Eddie Fennessy said the removal of the roundabout is part of the development of a new bridge over the River Blackwater.
"It is key infrastructural project that will improve connection options between North and South Navan for decades to come.
"This phase of the project will cause disruption for local residents and businesses. Movement around the area will be difficult and traffic management systems will be in place until mid-July.
"Traffic congestion is inevitable unfortunately. I ask people to be patient and to take great care when driving in the area."
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The new route is expected to be a gamechanger for traffic in Navan, where at the moment, the only route into Navan from the north of the town is down to the inner relief road via the Round O/Abbeylands junctions.
The new 1.15km stretch of roadway aims to slash travel times for traffic coming into Navan from the northside of the town and reduce the snarl-ups that currently blight the Abbeylands and Fire Station junctions.
The new road shaves two hectares off the edge of the Blackwater Park lands and continues through the site of the now demolished OPW building and emerges at the existing roundabout on the Navan-Kells Road. The bridge section of the road was lowered into place in October.
The scheme consists of two 3.25m wide lanes, 2m wide raised one-way cycle track on both sides and 2.5m wide footpaths on both sides while the new link will also give the public pedestrian access to Blackwater Park from the west side of the town.
The works are being carried out by John Craddock, the same contractor responsible for the Navan 2030 works in the town centre.