The dangerous situation regarding pedestrian crossing points at Allenwood Cross is regularly brought up at our Tidy Towns and Scoil Mhuire Parents Association meetings. In March 2017, my colleague Cllr. Mark Stafford raised the issue at a council meeting and it was agreed to install cameras to monitor the junction and assess what needs to be done to improve the situation. (See meeting minutes here)
Today, Kildare County Council provided Cllr. Stafford with an update following the assessment of Allenwood Cross. The report today says that additional traffic signals will be required and that these works could cost up to €250,000. At present this funding is not available and I would be hoping that we could convince the council and our current councillors to prioritise funding this project.
One my main priorities if elected on to Kildare County Council will be to ensure that infrastructure in rural villages grows at the same pace as the rest of the village. This is an example of the type of project that needs local representatives pushing for it, if it is to get delivered.
The full text of the report from Kildare County Council is as follows:
The junction at Allenwood village was examined under TAAG to investigate whether a signalised junction was warranted at this location. As part of this process a pedestrian and traffic survey was undertaken. Traffic flow levels at the junction would not indicate that a signalised junction is required at this location in accordance with guidance figures for the selection of junction types in the Traffic Management Guidelines.
However taking into consideration the location of the junction, geometry of the junction, type of traffic movements, anticipated future development of the village and assessment of all junction users, it is determined that a signalised junction is appropriate at this location.
The next stage of the process is to identify and source funding for ;
1) The Design & Tender for a Signalised junction in accordance with Kildare County Council Traffic management Section Requirements,
2) The construction of signalised junction,Considering similar type of projects undertaken an estimate for the cost of these works is between €100K-€250K depending on the extent of civils works required.
