Work to start on a new by-pass route to take traffic from this Kildare town centre

Work will start soon on a new route which will allow drivers to bypass most of Naas town centre.

According to Kildare County Council the project - which will create an enlarged junction - is “currently at detailed design stage.”

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The work at Murtagh’s Corner will “provide the fourth arm to the junction at the corner of South Main Street, Kilcullen Road and the Newbridge Road.

It will mean that traffic coming from the Newbridge direction will be able to travel straight ahead through the junction and on to Corban’s Lane, which is the location of Naas CBS and the back entrance to the unopened shopping centre.

Site investigations are due to take place shortly and this will be followed by the appointment of a contractor to complete the works, which will take place afterwards.

A design for the traffic lights has already been completed.

Independent councillor Bill Clear said recently this could significantly alleviate traffic congestion by enabling vehicles to travel directly through, bypassing the town centre.

He said this would improve traffic flow.

He said part of the junction “looks horrendous” and "presents a terrible facade coming in from the Newbridge Road.”