HGV restriction being considered for Kildare road
Photo for illustrative purposes only
A RESTRICTION on HGVs is being considered for a small rural road near Athy after it emerged that there is no budget to widen it.
Cllr Brian Dooley brought forward the motion to address the issue of HGV movement on the L8073 between Russelstown and Burtown. He stated that the road required widening or a ban on vehicles.
The road, situated roughly 6km from the centre of Athy town, has deteriorated because of heavy traffic, and is not wide enough for such large vehicles.
Residents in the area have seen a large increase in traffic volume, with Dara Conlon, acting senior engineer at the Transport Section of Kildare County Council, stating that the road is not appropriate for the level of traffic seen on it.
Mr Conlon suggested that the situation could be improved through contact with hauliers.
Kildare County Council stated that a HGV restriction “can be considered in the context of the wider HGV restriction in Athy”.
An HGV restriction in the centre of Athy town is still being investigated.
It had been reported that a large number of HGVs are continuing to make their way through the centre of Athy despite €40 million being spent on a new bypass – the N78 Southern Distributor Route – designed to take heavy traffic out of the town.
