Major Kilkenny active travel project takes shape on busy road

Phase two of the active travel works on the Waterford Road in Kilkenny City went to construction in August and focuses on improving walking and cycling facilities between the Bohernatounish Road roundabout and Nuncio Road.

Phase one is now complete and extends along the Waterford Road, inside the ring road.

The 300‑metre section in phase two extends from the roundabout at Lidl to the Nuncio Road roundabout.

The previous arrangement consisted of one traffic lane in each direction, 2m footpaths, and 1.2m cycle lanes on both sides within a 50 km/h environment.

The area includes two roundabouts and two pedestrian crossings that provide access to nearby estates and side streets.

The facilities did not meet current best‑practice standards for safety, comfort, or inclusivity.

Narrow cycle lanes, vehicle speeds, and junction layouts limit the attractiveness of walking and cycling, particularly for children, older adults, and less confident users.

According to the local authority, the project will deliver a rapid‑build upgrade to create a safer, more coherent, and more accessible active travel corridor that supports everyday trips to shops, schools, workplaces, recreational destinations and major employment and business areas.

The project incorporates traffic calming measures including carriageway narrowing, raised pedestrian crossings and junction tightening, which are expected to reduce excessive vehicle speeds.

These measures will improve safety for vulnerable road users and create a more comfortable environment that encourages walking, wheeling and cycling as everyday travel choices.

The current phase has an expected completion timeframe of Q2 in 2027.