"Vehicles are losing mirrors" - calls to upgrade status of road in Kilkenny

Calls have been made to upgrade the status of the R693 (Urlingford to Kilkenny) road following a council motion recently raised by Cllr Mary Hilda Cavanagh.

Cavanagh proposed that Transportation Infrastructure Ireland (TII) upgrade the R693 (Urlingford to Kilkenny) to ‘national road’ status.

Charter of Friendship signed between Kilkenny and town of Beclean in Transylvania, Romania

“Huge investment is needed on this road due to the increased volume of traffic since the M8 motorway opened,” she said.

“At the time there was a promise that it would be upgraded but that hasn’t come to fruition.”

Cllr Michael McCarthy seconded the motion, describing the R693 as a ‘main artery’ from Limerick, North Tipperary and Laois to the South-East.

“It’s not wide enough at points for two lorries meeting each other,” he said. “Vehicles are losing mirrors.”

In response, Director of Services at Kilkenny County Council, Tim Butler, stated that the original plan to upgrade the road’s status was subsequently impacted by the greater-than-expected development of the M9.

“If the R693 is upgraded, it would be competing with other national roads and that may impact funding,” he added.

“Measures addressing pinch points may be a solution. It’s 29kms of road so it would be difficult to get realignment.”

The matter will be considered further at the next meeting.