No funding to complete Kildare cycleway

THE NATIONAL Transport Authority (NTA) has not provided sufficient funds for a complete design of permanent cycle lanes on the main street of Newbridge, the recent meeting of the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District was told.

The matter arose in a question from cllr Tracey O'Dwyer, who asked the council to clarify why the temporary cycle lanes have not been removed. A reply noted that, during the pandemic, when the lanes were installed, the scheme was considered a temporary measure pending the design and installation of a permanent scheme. Since then, the council has progressed an outline design for a permanent scheme. 

However, insufficient NTA funding has been provided to complete the option selection stage.

The councillor said this project is clearly not being progressed by the NTA and saw no reason why the bollards could not be removed and the location returned to its original use.

Officials said the council is "at the mercy of the NTA" in this matter.