Financial Constraints Block Clane Pedestrian Safety Project, Despite Draft Plans Being Drawn Up

Friday, 1 November 2024 at 15:55

By Martin Osborne

Without external funding, the project cannot progress.

Pedestrian safety enhancements at the junction between Clane Main Street and Prosperous Road face an uncertain future due to a lack of funding, despite growing concerns over vehicle encroachment on narrow footpaths.

Councillor Pádraig McEvoy highlighted the issue in a recent Clane-Maynooth Municipal District meeting, where he urged Kildare County Council to improve the cramped footpath at the intersection of Clane Main Street and Prosperous Road (L403).

In response, Kildare County Council said they have drafted a proposal that aims to expand pedestrian space and improve crossing safety for vulnerable road users, including the elderly and schoolchildren.

However, officials have made it clear that without external funding, the project cannot progress.

The Council’s request for financial support from the National Transport Authority was rejected, as national funding for Active Travel Schemes remains constrained.

An engineer for the council said that while plans to widen the footpath and improve crossing areas are in place, they remain shelved until funding can be secured.

"It should be noted that there is currently no external source of funding available to Kildare County Council to progress improvements. Requests to the National Transport Authority to reallocate funding to this junction improvement works have not been approved as there is a constraint nationally on the overall funding levels available for Active Travel Schemes," the engineer said.