Changes urged to one-way system in Athy

EFFORTS to tackle traffic congestion in Athy could see changes to the town’s one-way system and a redesign of a key junction, following two motions brought forward by cllr Brian Dooley at a recent meeting of Athy Municipal District.

Cllr Dooley called on the council to investigate the possibility of easing congestion by altering the one-way traffic flow at Emily Square. His proposal would allow vehicles to travel from the Carlow Road side through to the Monasterevin Road, potentially improving circulation in the town centre.

Cllr Dooley drew attention to the large reception Athy’s Emily Square has been getting since the opening of the Shackleton Experience. While the extra footfall in Athy’s centre is extremely positive for the town, it also contributes to increased traffic congestion.

“Nine out of ten people that went into the Shackleton were people from outside the town,” said cllr Dooley. “We are going to see it every weekend. There were queues going into the Shackleton, which is brilliant, but it brought traffic with it.” 

In response, Kildare County Council said it is willing to collaborate with elected representatives and other stakeholders to explore measures aimed at reducing traffic congestion.

Cllr Dooley also proposed that the council redesign the Barrow Quay Junction by reducing the size of the pedestrian area to create two lanes, including left and right filter lanes to address traffic concerns. He referenced a wide area that “juts out” and suggested that the council redesign the area to take away a few feet to alleviate traffic.

Cllr Aoife Breslin was in favour of the motion, but advised that the council and local representatives should err on the side of caution when it comes to the potential redesign. “The whole area needs an overall approach. Let’s sit down and make sure we have it right,” she suggested.

Responding to this second motion, the council said it was open to considering the redesign as part of broader traffic improvement works planned for Athy “to ensure that the optimal outcome is achieved for walkers, cyclists and all other road users”.

The council’s Projects Team is expected to continue discussions with local representatives as part of ongoing efforts to improve traffic flow and safety in Athy.