First steps towards planned bypass of Duleek taken with €150,000 allocation

The first steps towards the provision of a by-pass for Duleek and the continuation of work on the M3 are among the projects to receive funding in Meath, which was announced in the past week. Transport Minister Noel Dempsey announced details of the NRA"s National Roads Programme last week, which will see €47,065,966 spent on progressing projects such as the M3, the M1 Northern Motorway, the Ashbourne Bypass, the Slane Bypass, the Ashbourne to Ardee road project and the Navan Inner Relief Road. On Monday, he announced the allocation of over €21 million for regional and county roads, including the allocation of €150,000 for a proposed Duleek by-pass and projects such as the R158 Trim to Kilcock Road and the R153 Navan to Balrath Road, together with a substantial grant for carriageway/footpath repairs. Duleek"s Cllr Jimmy Cudden was delighted with the funding for the Duleek by-pass which is likely to be spent on route selection and a feasibility study. 'I first put down a notice of motion, calling for a by-pass in 2003,' he recalled. He has made repeated calls in the meantime and is delighted that the first stpes are now being taken. He recalled that he carried out his own traffic survey over five days in 2003 when he found that 5,000 cars and 1,000 vans passed through the centre of the village in that period. 'That traffic has been quadrupled since them and the commerical life of Duleek is being suffocated,' he said. 'Children and pensioners find it impossible to cross the road, so we have never needed a by-pass more,' he added. Minister Dempsey said that despite current constraints on Government spending, he was delighted to be in a position to allocate over €21 million for much-needed work on regional and local roads in Meath this year. 'Only last week, I announced a further €47 million for investment in national roads in Meath in 2009. 'The works announced for County Meath are particularly valuable in these challenging economic times. These roads serve an important economic role and have valuable social and community functions.' He said that 94 per cent of all our roads were regional or local - they carry about 60 per cent of all traffic and 43 per cent of all goods traffic. 'It is vital that we maintain and improve the network,' he said. Cllr Liz McCormack, chairperson of Meath County Council, also welcomed the funding of €300,000 for improvement works at Connaught Street, Athboy, which was included in Monday"s announcement. 'This funding is very welcome and is good news for residents and road-users alike. I would like to pay gratitude to Minister Dempsey and Deputy Johnny Brady for their efforts in securing vital funding for this much-needed improvement work,' she said. Cllr Michael Lynch welcomed funding of €500,000 for further upgrading work at Patrickstown, on the Kells-Oldcastle Road.