Potential for park and ride facility mooted along M1
The potential for an official park and ride facility along the MI in Louth was mooted during a Dail debate last week.
Michael Nolan, the chief executive of Transport Infrastructure Ireland was speaking during a Dail debate on potential measures to tackle traffic congestion in and around cities.
Responding to queries about whether park and ride systems might be feasible for junction points around the motorway network, he highlighted the M1 in Louth as a possible location.
‘ There are places along the network, such as the point at which the Ardee link road intersects with the Dublin-Belfast motorway, where there is evidence of car sharing or car pooling on a daily basis,’ said Mr. Nolan.
‘ There are opportunities there and we are probably going to initiate some conversations with Louth County Council on that one in particular, mainly because we need to make that location safer.’
Currently there are a number of unofficial park car pooling parking sites dotted along the motorway, including the Ardee junction at the MI.
The second is located off the Castleblayney/ Dundalk town centre junction.
Another has emerged just off the Major’s Hollow roundabout at the Ballymascanlon. Carlingford junction off the M1, which appears to be a meeting point for many northern commuters who are car pooling to Dublin and elsewhere.
Louth gardai have in recent weeks appealed for motorists to be cautious about parking vehicles at all three of these locations, as thieves have been targetting them for break-ins and thefts.
A spokesman appealed for passing motorists to be vigilant around the car pooling locations, and to report any suspicious activity they may come across.