Kilkenny ring road pedestrian crossings to be funded under €3million allocation

A €3 million investment from the National Transport Authority (NTA) is set to transform the experience of walking, wheeling or cycling around Kilkenny.

Funding of more than €1.2 million announced last week for three major projects in the county brings the total  investment announced to €3 million for 25 projects in the county.

Important projects also funded are works to improve city ring road crossing facilities and a feasibility study into a new, northern river crossing for the city.

The investment is described as making walking and cycling  a safer and more appealing option for more people, by .local TD Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan.

“I’m pleased to see this continued investment into making Kilkenny safer and easier to get around on foot or on a bike. The best cities and towns in the world to live in are those with safe and attractive public spaces that are easy to walk and cycle around. It’s wonderful to see this idea being embraced by Irish towns and cities again, and Kilkenny in particular is well placed to feel the benefits of this kind of investment. 

“This funding allocation includes €350,000 for the Safe Routes to School programme for five Kilkenny schools, so this will enable more kids to walk, cycle or scoot to school safely, which is a great way for them to stay healthy and gain some independence, as well as taking cars off the road.” 

Included in the overall allocation is €240,000 in staffing costs for experienced engineers and planners to roll out these measures and €560,000 for a walking and cycling connection between Cootes Lane and the Ring Road.

Also in the city, €400,000 has been allocated for a 'rapid build'  along the Freshford and Granges Road.

A project that had to be paused in Callan, last year, has now been granted funding of €300,000. This will see the provision of wider active travel facilities and the one way system along Bridge Street.

Funding of €100,000 has been ear-marked to ‘widen routes and improvement of crossing facilities’ on Kilkenny’s ring road, something that has been regularly called for, while €50,000 has been designated for a feasibility study into a northern river crossing for the city.

Outside the city €100,000 has been designated for Active Travel, junction tightening/ pedestrian crossings in the Castlecomer municipal district while an additional €100,000 is allocated to the Piltown municipal district under the same category.

In addition to this €3 million allocation, a further €500,000 has been allocated for Kilkenny under the Bus Stop Enhancement Programme. Read the full list of projects funded across the city and county in the Kilkenny People next week.