Locals claim busy Kildare road is too narrow with new cycle lanes

Locals are holding a protest this week in opposition to a 3km cycleway on the main road between Castledermot and Kilcullen in south Kildare.

Kildare County Council said the €1.6m pilot project - funded by Transport Infrastructure Ireland - went through a full public consultation process.

Works have already begun to install cycle lanes into the existing hard shoulders of the R448 between Moone and Timolin.

The council said the project will improve road safety and create a link between Moone and Timolin.

However members of the local community dubbed the plan the “road to nowhere” and claimed it is unnecessary and a waste of public money.

A protest is being planned in Moone at 10am on Friday.

Locals claimed that there is not enough room on the new carriageways for farming machinery or HGVs to pass safely. 

They said a photograph on the R448 taken today illustrated this.

Kildare Co Council said the scheme went through a full statutory process, including public consultation, and was amended in response to local submissions.

Surveys will be carried out on the completed cycleway to assess construction, road safety, motorist behaviour, and usage.
The results of these surveys will guide the rollout of the National Cycle Network which is aimed at delivering safer facilities for existing cyclists and pedestrians.

A council spokesperson said: “A robust procurement process was carried out by Kildare County Council to appoint a contractor to carry out the construction of this pilot project.

“This utilised an existing NTA Framework of pre-approved contractors familiar with the delivery of similar projects. Following a rigorous tender evaluation process the Most Economically Advantageous Contractor was identified and appointed.

“It is anticipated that post opening surveys and audits will take place on the completed scheme to gather the data to inform this evaluation.

“The outcomes of this pilot will provide useful insights to inform the roll out of the National Cycle Network while also providing an improved facility for existing users.”

Labour Party TD Mark Wall told the Leader that he has spoken to council officials on a number of occasions. 

He added that he will be following up in coming weeks on the cost of the project. 

Mr Hilliard of the Moone & Timolin Positive Action Group claimed: “The project is an attempt to make a perfectly good road hazardous.

“We are organising a protest on August 15 which will assemble at 10am at Moone Parish Church.”
He further claimed: “This is being rammed down our throats.”

The council said that the plans for the scheme were advertised in local newspapers and were on placed on public display and published on the council’s website.

A total of nine submissions were received from members of the public between May and June 2024.
Gardaí also had no objections to the proposed pilot scheme, the Council said.

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