Louth cllrs against zebra crossing at Inner Relief roundabout

Dundalk councillors were left frustrated and angry, after hearing of Louth County Council's decision to proceed with the installation of a zebra crossing at the Avenue Road/Inner Relief Road roundabout, to replace pedestrian lights which have been broken since January.

A special meeting of Dundalk Municipal District was held last week, ahead of the full Louth County Council meeting, to discuss and resolve the ongoing malfunction of the traffic and pedestrian lights at the roundabout.

Dundalk Municipal District councillors had first learned at the municipal district's April meeting, that the Council planned to replace the pedestrian lights with a zebra crossing, being told at the time that the measure would be a temporary one, ahead of Active Travel measures that would entail the removal of the roundabout completely and the installation of a controlled crossing that would include cycle lanes.

Following push back from councillors to the plans, it was agreed to hold a special meeting to discuss the matter further. At last Monday's special meeting however, councillors were told that the Council would be proceeding with its plans for a zebra crossing. The meeting heard that it would cost around €100,000 to repair the traffic light system that is there at present, and that the zebra crossing that the Council is planning to install, would cost €20,000 to €30,000.

Several councillors spoke at the meeting, objecting to the Council's plan for the zebra crossing, with councillors at one in opposition to the plan.

Director of Services, Mr David Jones reminded the members that the old traffic light system was obsolete and that the Council's current contractor is very familiar with the system, and that to deviate and to get another contractor in, could end up being more expensive. Mr Jones said that they would look at advance warning signs to announce the change from traffic lights to the zebra crossing, adding that “the Executive and members are at one in terms of safety for pedestrians and road users”.

He went on to say that they have to square off what it viable and within value for money at present, in cognisance of the fact that Active Travel is coming down the line, “sooner rather than later” and that a lot of work has gone into get to Part 8 planning.

Mr Jones further added that while councillors say they want to spend €100,000 on the system, it was an Executive matter, and that “we are at one in terms of safety, but the Executive decision takes in all factors that feeds into it”.

Cllr Marianne Butler and Cllr Robert Nash both spoke to the Dundalk Democrat following the special meeting, where both voiced their frustration at the decision.

Cllr Nash said that “If there was money allocated in the budget for traffic lights, why can't it just be spent [on this]. They're saying its €100,000 to fix what's there”, with Cllr Butler adding that “the zebra crossings, the money they're talking about there is €20-30 thousand they're saying. But they're not doing anything else.”

Cllr Butler commented, “[Cllr] Robert [Nash] made the point that everything can be reused, we have no idea when Active Travel will actually [happen] – they're saying December 2025 is the drop dead date, but we know with things, stuff slips.

“We haven't got to a single Part 8 yet for Active Travel. They're saying the timeline is, the consultation will start in May, it'll come to us for approval in October. There's no guarantees it will be approved. They haven't been approved in Waterford, Galway, Salthill.”

Cllr Nash added “our point is that you spend €100,000, if Active Travel happens in five years, you take down the heads (part of the traffic light system) and you use them somewhere else. Take the panel out and use it somewhere else. We've been allocated €1.5 million in the budget for traffic lights, which was passed by the councillors – use it.”

When put to the councillors if the meeting was therefore of no help to them, both agreed that it was not, with Cllr Butler adding, “everything we said was completely discounted, a waste of time”.