Section of Athy street to be closed until next June
Emily Square in Athy with the Shackleton Museum in the background
A stretch of Offaly Street in Athy is set to be closed for a period of nine months – until June 2025.
Kildare Co Council, on behalf of David Walsh Civil Engineering, has given notice that it intends to close the road – from the junction with Leinster Street to the junction with Meeting Lane – on Friday 11 October. It’s to facilitate public realm works on Emily Square and Offaly Street.
The endeavour will deliver a comprehensive upgrade of the square, transforming it into a multifunctional space for the people of Athy.
Local councillor Aoife Breslin, the Cathaoirleach of Athy Municipal District, recently told the that the square will be “a bright place for people to come and sit, people to go in and out of the restaurants, the excellent public houses here and use the bank, or the other shops along the way... it'll be a focal point for the town and it'll be somewhere that we can put on public events and use it for the community.”
Northbound traffic will be diverted via Barrow Quay and Duke Street, while traffic heading south will be diverted via the R78 Leinster Street and Church Road.
Any objections or observations should be lodged in writing to the A/Senior Executive Offiver, Transport, Mobility and Open Spaces, at Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas, Co Kildare W91 X77F or via the online consultation portal at consult.kildarecoco.ie. The deadline is 5pm on Monday 16 September.
The council has also given notice of its decision to extend the duration of closures at Offaly Street and Barrow Quay.
The closure is extended to Thursday 10 October for Phase 1 (Offaly Street from the junction with Emily Square to the junction with Meeting Lane) and Saturday 30 November for Phase 2 (Barrow Quay north to south, from the junction with Leinster Street to the junction with Offaly Street).
“The closure is required to facilitate utility installation associated with the Shackleton Museum project,” the local authority said.
Northbound traffic will be diverted via Barrow Quay and Duke Street, and southbound traffic via the R78 Leinster Street and Church Road.
