Council limited to what it can do on traffic congestion at Carrick Road in Dundalk

Louth County Council is limited to what it can do to alleviate traffic congestion at the R178 Carrickmacross Road - Ecco Road junction in Dundalk, councillors were told at the Dundalk Municipal District April meeting.

Cllr John Reilly had raised that matter telling the meeting that in the mornings on the Carrick Road there are congestion problems, highlighting the Carrick Road - Ecco Road junction.

Cllr Reilly said that motorists driving past Dundalk Garda Station and out the Carrick Road, there is not enough width on the road to allow for traffic to pass vehicles that are trying to turn right onto the Ecco Road, calling it a pinch point, adding that it was causing a tailback of traffic, right down to the Garda Station.

The Dundalk-Carlingford councillor added that with Mount Avenue being closed to traffic for 12 months, he could imagine there would be "mayhem" with the added traffic, asking if there was anything that could be done on a "practical level" at the junction, "even on a temporary basis."

In response Senior Executive Engineer Paddy Connolly, acknowledged that in the short term there probably would be traffic issues and that there was probably very little that they could do about it, but added that in the long term, the Ecco Road was included in plans for the Active Travel Scheme in Dundalk. He further added that they would have a look to see if anything could be done to help in the short term.