Works commence on major €12m Kildare ring road project

Works have commenced on the €12m Maynooth Eastern Ring Road (MERR) scheme in Kildare, following the execution of the main construction contract by Kildare County Council and John Cradock Ltd in November 2025.

According to Construction Information Services (CIS), the anticipated completion date for the project is June 2027.

The proposed development involves:

• Construction of approximately 1.55 km of Type 3 Single Carriageway;

• Provision of a new 4-way signalised junction at the location of the existing R405
  Celbridge Road / Griffin Rath Road priority T-junction;

• Provision of a new 4-way signalised junction at the location of the existing R148

  Leixlip Road / R157 Dunboyne Road priority T-junction;

• Realignment and modification of approximately 200m of the R157 Dunboyne Road and the provision of a filter lane for vehicles turning left onto the R148, Leixlip Road from the R157;

• Realignment and modification of approximately 300m of the R148 Leixlip Road;

• Realignment and modification of approximately 230m of the R405 Celbridge Road;

• Realignment and modification of approximately 170m of Griffin Rath Road;

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Also included in the plans are:

• Provision of pedestrian and cyclist facilities along the full length of the MERR;

• Provision of pedestrian and cyclist facilities along the realigned and modified R405, R148, R157 and Griffin Rath Road;

• The provision of a pedestrian and cycleway connection from the MERR to the Royal Canal towpath north of the Royal Canal;

• Construction of a bridge structure spanning the Dublin to Sligo railway and the Royal Canal;

• Accommodation works for properties affected by the proposed development.

When complete, this strategic link will complete a ring route around the eastern side of Maynooth, alleviating traffic congestion in the town centre, facilitating planned development along the route, and improving connectivity to educational facilities and residential areas along the Celbridge Road.

Funding

The scheme is jointly funded by Kildare County Council and the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF). LIHAF facilitates targeted investment in enabling infrastructure to accelerate the delivery of housing on strategically designated lands.

The project will support sustainable urban residential development by enabling the construction of approximately 1,000 additional housing units in Maynooth.