New Kilkenny roads to be constructed as part of city plans - Council Highlights
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Plans are afoot locally to develop two new city routes in order to combat traffic congestion and the impact of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).
HGVs have become a particular point of concern in parts of the city, particularly on the Circular Road, at the junction beside the Sceilp Inn.
However, Senior Roads Engineer with Kilkenny County Council Stan Cullen has outlined the council’s intention to develop a new route that will transfer HGV traffic from that area and move vehicles to a newly constructed road better equipped to hold HGV traffic.
Mr Cullen also revealed plans to build a new, alternative route from the western side of the city via St Francis’s Bridge. More details on those projects are expected in the coming months.
The information was shared as part of a Kilkenny City and Environs Heavy Commercial Vehicles Management Plan to city based elected representatives.
HGV traffic has been a point of much frustration for some local communities in the past number of years. Last October, fresh signage was promised on the Kennyswell Road and previously HGV traffic on the road was made one-way only.
The plan, which is monitored and updated if necessary on an ongoing basis, saw the St Francis Bridge development over the line in 2018, in a construction hailed by its supporters for removing much of the traffic burden on the nearby Green’s Bridge.
Over the past few months, the local authority has welcomed submissions from the public under Section 38 of the Roads Act. Restrictions on heavy goods vehicles on the Dublin Road, Granges Road and in parts of the city centre were the main findings, with written responses and minor measures such as signage and other measures are due to take place in the coming months.
The presentation was passed by Cllr Sean Ó hArgain (Labour) and Cllr Andrew McGuinness (Fianna Fáil).