Plans finally revealed for traffic calming in north Louth

Louth County Council's plans for Safe Routes To School works on the Dundalk to Carlingford R173 road at Bellurgan have been welcomed by local representative Cllr Antóin Watters, who has confirmed that works are to begin this summer.

The local community has been campaigning for some years now for works on the road, due to the high speed of traffic and the lack of adequate traffic calming measures on the busy R173 at Bellurgan, the location of a local primary school, playschool, Bellurgan FC, and local shops.

The protests included marches by children and adults from the on the main road, and a demonstration outside the Dundalk Town Hall ahead of one of the Dundalk Municipal District monthly meetings.

Sharing details of the plans on social media this week, Cllr Watters said that: "It’s been a long road, I first raised the issue of road safety at Bellurgan National School back in April 2021. But today we got to view the plans for the safe routes to school works, that are due to commence in July/August this year."

The Sinn Féin councillor said that the plans include four raised pedestrian crossings, with a push button crossing at the school, an extended speed limit, and three sets of speed cushions.

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"It’s a great plan and well done to the team in Louth county council, Bellurgan national school, the parents and the local community", Cllr Watters commented. "It’s one of those moments where I feel the work I put in over the years with the many residents who got involved will benefit people and the roads in the county will be saver for all the road users."

Cllr Watters added, "They said it couldn’t be done but we will see it on the ground in the coming months."