Naas town relief road design will be ready next year

“We're as close as it takes the planners to produce the diagrams,” said Naas councillor Seamie Moore referring to the long-term plan to alleviate Main Street traffic.

“They have designed a masterplan to finish out the town,” he confirmed.

With the planned Inner Relief Road from the Dublin Road to the Blessington Road being held up by residents’ concerns in The Gallops, cllr Moore brought up the subject at the most recent meeting of the Naas Municipal District meeting last week.

He suggested that “following the failure of the infamous Naas Pathfinder Programme and the non-usage of road allocation grants for the town, that the Corban’s Lane/South Main Street project be now brought forward as the most essential roads project to be completed”.

This plan will open up the rear of the town to allow access to the recently re-opened shopping centre (and it 750 car parking spaces), with an exit down at Murtagh’s Cross onto the Newbridge Road.

Cllr Moore’s motion received a very positive reply from Area Engineer David Reel.

“The design for Murtagh’s Corner/Corban’s Lane is being prepared by the Transport Capital Team and is at detailed design with delivery anticipated in 2025,” he said.

“In respect of the Public Realm Team, they have tendered for the services of a multi-disciplinary integrated design team lead by a suitably qualified urban designer to prepare a non-statutory regeneration Town Renewal Masterplan for Naas,” he revealed.

“The plans will have a strong focus on the Public Realm and the successful candidate will provide all necessary consultancy design services required to deliver the regeneration. The SPPR team are currently assessing tenders with a view to awarding a contract in the coming weeks, and a programme for delivery will be outlined, with progress reports to be provided in the monthly chief executive reports.

“It is envisioned that the Masterplan will incorporate the entire town centre area, it will have a particular phased priority on three interlinked Core Regeneration Areas (CRAs) located within the historic core of Naas town centre and two key transportation and public realm interventions on the north and south access points to Main Street. It will also acknowledge and develop the relationship between and integration of the Canal Quarter, the Naas Library and Cultural Centre and the Grand Canal Greenway”.

“Flood’s pub was knocked down in 2007 to make room for Corban’s Lane to allow access to the shopping centre, and was left as a magnificent ruin for the last 15 years,” said cllr Moore.

“We’ll probably have to take about 150m off the secondary school, but it wouldn’t be terribly missed,” he predicted.