Need for bypass of Julianstown has never been greater
JULIANSTOWN needs a bypass and the need will grow greater in the years ahead.
That’s the view of Cllr Sharon Tolan who asked the council for a full appraisal of a bypass to be submitted to the Department of Transport. The council agreed to progress it.
‘Julianstown is getting worse and worse,’ she declared, saying everything pointed to a bypass.
She said people were trying to walk to school but there were a lot more houses on the way, with 1,700 under construction and there is no room on trains, so people are forced to drive.
‘ The bypass has to be a focus and we have to push it. We need to work hard to get the funding,’ she stated.
‘At peak time it’s bumper to bumper and when it’s not, people are speeding through the village.’
Cllr Eimear Ferguson gave a first hand account of her own experience recently - a broken down truck on the bridge leading to massive tailbacks, right to the M1.
Director of Finance Fiona Lawless said the bypass was not on the Capital Programme and it needs to be included for real action to progress on the idea.
Cllr Sharon Keogan argued that €300,000 had been put by for traffic calming and that money had not been spent yet. ‘What are we going to do with that money?,’ she asked officials.
Also speaking at the area council meeting, Cllr Stephen McKee said the traffic in the area was a ‘disaster’ and that too many people were commuting.
‘We have to do more to help people to be able to work locally. They go to work in the dark and come home in the dark.’
Cllr Tom Kelly said there had been a plan 10 years ago for the Duleek/Julianstown junction and nothing was done.
Cllr Wayne Harding agreed that the area needed help, even for the stress level of motorists. ‘People in Kilmoon and Duleek will agree with that,’ he remarked.