Locals fear potential fatality on ‘rat-run’ road in Newbridge, County Kildare

A road in Newbridge has been described as 'a rat run', and locals fear that a fatality will occur on it in the near future.

That’s what Sinn Féin councillor Noel Connolly told Kildare County Council (KCC) at the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District meeting, which was held on Wednesday, January 18.

Cllr Connolly was referring to the Great Connell Road, and called on KCC to install traffic calming measures on the road 'between Buckley’s Cross and Murphy Surveys Roundabout, with particular emphasis on the entrances to estates such as Baroda Court, Connell Drive and Wellesley Manor.'

He also said that he has received correspondence from a local who has been concerned about the road since at least 2015, and the local said that, at one point, they were considering a sit-down protest in relation to the road.

Cllr Connolly concluded by calling on KCC to speak to local gardaí to address the area.

Sinn Féin Cllr Noel Connolly

The engineer explained: "Speeding is an issue for An Garda Síochana.

"It is up to local gardaí to enforce the law there."

They continued: "I’m not sure if ramps would resolve the issue either.

"Speed tickets and fines would slow people down."

When asked further about this exchange, Cllr Connolly said he 'partially agreed' with the engineer, but stressed that 'gardaí can’t be everywhere all the time', and are often stuck for resources.

He also said that he would research into speeding data in relation to the road, with the aim of 'possibly making a case for other traffic calming measures (to be installed).'