Controversial Moone Timolin cycle path is ‘a pilot project’

TRANSPORT minister Darragh O’Brien has confirmed that the controversial works on the R448 between Moone and Timolin form part of a national pilot project to test new cycling infrastructure designs.

In a letter to Kildare South TD Seán Ó Fearghaíl, the minister said the initiative is being delivered by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in partnership with Kildare County Council as part of the National Cycle Network (NCN) Plan, published in 2024. The project aims to assess how best to integrate cycling and vehicular traffic on Irish roads.

“As the reallocation of existing road space to provide segregated cycle facilities and the use of quiet roads for cycling are relatively novel concepts in an Irish context, it is therefore prudent to pilot and assess these concepts in situ,” minister O’Brien said.

He added that the pilot on the R448 will “evaluate the effectiveness of various segregation options” and that the findings will help guide the wider roll-out of the NCN across the country.

Construction on the route began over the summer, and the minister acknowledged that “disruption” has arisen as a result of the works.

His comments follow mounting criticism from local residents who have described the project as poorly designed and dangerous. At the end of July this year, locals protested the project and later branded the scheme a “shambolic waste of taxpayers’ money.” 

According to the minister, TII and Kildare County Council met residents and members of the farming community in early September to hear concerns firsthand. “I have been advised that commitments were given by TII and Kildare County Council to review 14 actions raised at this meeting. I understand that some of these actions have already been accepted, with further consideration to take place of the remaining actions,” said Minister O’Brien.

Minister O’Brien described the engagement as “a positive step” that demonstrated “a genuine commitment to working with the local community to deliver improved walking and cycling infrastructure”.

Chairperson of Moone Timolin Positive Action Group, Mark Hillard, spoke in response to the minister’s letter, noting that the response does not help the situation:

He referenced the meeting between TII, the council and the community and included that while the changes being made to the scheme “is to be welcomed”, there was still a great deal of community anger towards this project.

“Politicians may be well meaning, but they are not running the country,” said Mr Hilliard. “It appears to me that it is, in fact, being run by overpaid, faceless bureaucrats that have no regard for the public purse and are immune from any repercussions.” 

Mr Hilliard continued: “The project has cost over €2 million to date and rising – and is one of three to be undertaken around the country.

“It is a complete squandering of the country’s resources. Someone needs to take a grip of the situation.

“If this is an indication of how the country is being run, we are in for a rude awakening,” he concluded.