Roads Capital Projects update delivered at Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District's November 2023 meeting

An engineer for Kildare County Council (KCC) gave a presentation to councillors who represent the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District (MD).

Stephen Deegan delivered the presentation, which concerned an update from KCC’s Transport, Mobility and Open Spaces Directorate on Roads Capital Projects for the MD.

The presentation took place at the latest MD meeting, which was heard on Wednesday, November 15 at KCC’s headquarters.

He told members that the Newbridge Outer Orbital Ring Road is currently ongoing 'at various stages and dangerous provision', and noted that planning permission is in place for the second bridge.

A consultant is still due to be appointed.

Mr Deegan also said that the CPO process commended in Q3 of this year, and an oral hearing is due to take place.

He further said that the Transport Strategy for Newbridge is ongoing, and 'will feed into the Local Area Plan (LAP) implementation.'

Aecom is listed the consultant for this project.

Mr Deegan also said that the junction programme for the MD is at the pre-feasibility and concept stage, and that junction designs are underway.

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The consultant is listed as OCSC Clandillon.

In addition, Mr Deegan said that the MD’s Bridge Programme is ongoing.

It was also heard that construction for the Machinery Yard Relocation and Regional Salt Barn 'is 90 per cent complete.'

The consultant for this project is listed as Kilgallon and Partners.

Regarding the junction programme, Mr Deegan said that the following junctions in the MD have been selected and will be delivered by Clandillon Consultants: Firmount, Cloncurry, Perry Street, Thompson Cross and Allen Cross.

He also said that repair works to the Millicent Bridge have been completed and the road has been reopened.

In addition, Mr Deegan said that a contractor is due to be appointed shortly to carry out emergency works at the Sheean Bridge in Rathangan following a tender process.

"The first tender of the 2023 Bridge Remediation Works Programme has bee issued with a tender return date of June 14," he said: "An appointment will follow with works due to be completed before the end of September.

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"A second package will be issued shortly for three further bridges in the Remediation Programme."

Regarding the new 70 metre roundabout on the R445 in Newhall, Naas, Mr Deegan explained that Part 8 was granted back in July of 2021, and that a compulsory purchase order was signed by KCC’s Chief Executive back in September of 2022.

He added that an An Bord Pleanála hearing was due to take place on November 7 in relation to the project, but this did not go ahead.

Mr Deegan also briefly discussed the council’s environmental goals and intention to reduce carbon emissions and improve public transport over the coming few years.

Lastly, he told councillors that a public Area Based transport Assessment (ABTA) consultation would take place in Q1 of next year.

Mayor of Newbridge and Fianna Fáil Cllr Noel Heavey added that he was disappointed at the turnout to the most recent LAP meeting in Newbridge, because 'a lot of people were unaware of it' and as such, he welcomed the news about the ABTA meeting.