Athy streets 'literally sinking in places'
Duke Street in Athy
Athy is facing further delays on upgrades to footpaths, streets and junctions as local authorities prioritise major infrastructure projects elsewhere in the county.
The executive of Kildare County Council were pressed on the matter at the most recent meeting of Athy Municipal District on 20 April.
Cllr Mark Leigh brought forward a motion calling on the council to seek a defined timeframe for the allocation of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) funding to upgrade footpaths, streets, junctions and public works along the R428 and other streets in the town.
The motion was seconded by cllr Leigh’s Labour Party colleague cllr Aoife Breslin.
The R428 stretches from Stradbally to Woodstock Street on the north-western side of Athy.
Acting senior engineer in the projects team Daragh Conlan issued the council’s response, which said that initial discussions between the council, TII and the Department of Transport on funding for upgrade and improvement works in the town have been positive but are at an early stage. The council’s response also detailed that further design work and cost estimates are required before any commitment on funding can be made.
The response elaborated that the council’s roads projects team are finalising drawings for improvements to the Carlow road junction and the Kilkenny road roundabout to facilitate the implementation of an HGV restriction in the town.
The council’s response further stated that the roads projects team cannot currently prioritise the Athy project due to commitments on “several key infrastructure projects” including at Maynooth, Celbridge-Hazelhatch and Newbridge.
The response was not received positively by the elected members.
Cllr Leigh said that he does not underestimate the pressure that the council and the area engineer are under, but said that some streets are “literally sinking in places” in the town and said that there is growing pressure from the public for safer pedestrian crossings.
Cllr Leigh’s Labour Party colleague Aoife Breslin said that footpaths in the town “are actually dangerous”.
Duke Street was pinpointed as one area of particular concern, with incidents of “serious injury” there according to cllr Breslin.
Cllr Brian Dooley noted the narrowness of the path as a significant issue.
Returning to a familiar theme of dissatisfaction with the government and TII, cllr Breslin said that promises by those bodies to carry out these works have not been kept.
Cllr Breslin and cllr Brian Dooley both aimed their frustration with TII for not meeting with the councillors.
The former quipped that “you wouldn’t see this in communist Russia”.
The council’s senior executive officer for transport, mobility and open spaces Mark McLoughlin that he would relay the “feedback to TII and the senior engineer” and said that the council would look at organising a meeting with the elected members this year.
