Dundalk councillor calls for traffic calming on Doylesfort Road
Dundalk Municipal District September meeting
Cllr Conor Keelan has called on Louth County Council to extend traffic calming measures to the Carnbeg and Ballynahattin areas of the Doylesfort in Dundalk.
In a motion at the Dundalk Municipal District September meeting, Cllr Keelan said that "the entire area is within the Dundalk boundary and there is no footpath. In addition there is a 80km speed limit which is regularly abused by non local traffic.
"The entire Doylesfort Road should be submitted for a speed limit review. The neighbouring Newry Road has a speed limit of 50km for example."
Responding to Cllr Keelan's motion however, Acting Director of Services, Placemaking & Physical Development, Willie Walsh, said that "there are currently no plans or funding for footpath construction at this location. A reduced speed limit for the road will be considered as part of the 2023/2024 speed limit review about to commence.
"Traffic and speed analysis will be undertaken to determine whether the road qualifies for traffic calming - any proposed measures will be subject to Department funding in 2024."
Cllr Keelan's motion received support at the meeting by Cllr Maeve Yore, who said that it was a very dangerous road.
Speaking to the Dundalk Democrat following the September meeting, Cllr Keelan said that "the entire Doylesfort section has no footpath. That is a matter for public safety. The road historically was separated to part urban, part rural areas. Part of the road used to be looked after by Dundalk Town Council and part of the area used to be looked after by Louth County Council.
"Coming to 2014 with the abolition of Dundalk Town Council, the urban part of the road was resurfaced, with drainage, etc. This was a very significant investment at the time, ramps were put in there as well which actually assisted safety on the road in general."
Cllr Keelan added that he had lobbied for those works to be carried, including works on the County Council section of the road, which included drainage works, saying that "Louth County Council saw the merit in that and did the job."
"But again", he continued, "there is no footpath. An 80kph speed limit on that road does not make sense, while the road coming down at Arthur's shop [the Newry Road] you're on a 50kph speed limit going up to the cemetery and going into town. So it's a simple measure saying reduce the speed limit and initiate traffic calming on that stretch of road, that is now all looked after by Louth County Council."