Dropped Onto A Slippery Grass Verge: Safety Fears Linger At One Of Kildare’s Busiest Bus Stops

More than 500 bus stops across Kildare have been identified as needing upgrades, while the council says interim safety measures are not planned at Red Lane due to the nature of the road.

Kildare County Council has sought to clarify the status of long-running safety concerns at a bus stop on Red Lane, beside the Tougher's Industrial Estate.

The issue has been raised with the council since at least 2023 and was the subject of a presentation to councillors in summer of that year. 

At the time, councillors were told the project had moved to the design stage in conjunction with the National Transport Authority.

However, there has been no visible progress since.

Passengers are currently being set down onto a grass verge, which bus drivers say becomes heavily waterlogged in wet weather, creating unsafe conditions for commuters. 

Bus Driver Sean Conroy described the stop as one of the busiest in the county, serving large numbers of workers travelling daily to and from the Toughers Industrial Estate.

He said it is only a matter of time before an incident happens.

He said people on wheelchairs also face extreme difficulty accessing buses at the stop.

While a bus shelter is in place on the opposite side of the road, no corresponding shelter or upgraded stop has been delivered on the Red Lane side.

Proposals had previously been discussed to relocate the stop closer to a nearby roundabout, but no update has been provided.

Kildare County Council is now being asked to clarify the current status of the project and whether any works are planned to address the safety concerns.

Fine Gael Cllr Peggy O Dwyer said it appears to be an NTA issue but she will raise it again with the council.

In a statement to Kfm News this afternoon, Kildare County Council says a preliminary design has been completed for a new bus stop and pedestrian crossing at Red Lane, beside the Tougher's Industrial Estate.

However, the council says further progress depends on securing funding from the National Transport Authority.

More than 500 bus stops across Kildare have been identified as needing upgrades, while the council says interim safety measures are not planned at Red Lane due to the nature of the road.

Kfm News has contacted the NTA for comment. 

This morning's Kildare Today had both Sean Conroy and Cllr O'Dwyer on to discuss these safety concerns at the bus stop at Red Lane.

The full interview can be listened to below: