Contentious Naas junction to remain closed
The previous situation on Basin Street which saw students walking side by side with vehicles
THE first attempt to re-open a dangerous Naas junction just six weeks after it was closed has failed.
At last week’s monthly meeting of the Naas Municipal District, cllr Seamie Moore asked “that the council removes the traffic bollards at the Junction of Abbey Street and Basin Street”, a traffic calming measure that was only installed at the end of August.
However, the area engineer Donal Hodgins was able to formally deny this request on the grounds of safety, and government policy.
“The closure of the junction of Abbey Street and Basin Street should be viewed from the needs of vulnerable road users,” began Mr Hodgins.
“All active travel proposals must be aligned to the road user hierarchy defined by the Department of Transport and National Transport Authority.
“This puts pedestrians first in terms of consideration when designing schemes.
“The situation allowing motorised vehicles to turn 'blind' from Abbey Street onto Basin Street endangered pedestrians and other vulnerable road users and the elimination of through traffic has brought immense safety benefits to users of this street.
“The installation of the bollards prioritises the needs of vulnerable road users rather than the needs of motorised traffic, and so it is therefore not proposed to remove them.
”The opportunities for further enhancements of the area are clear now that this potential collision point has been removed.
“Basin Street and the Harbour Quarter area can be redeveloped in the context of filtered permeability for pedestrians whilst retaining sustainable and appropriate access for vehicles to serve the needs of local businesses are currently being developed."
The engineer concluded: “These improvements will serve to increase the sustainable mobility linkages between the Main Street, the Harbour and Moate areas."
