Traffic lights requested for Kildare bridge that is 'no longer fit for purpose'
The condition of the structure was raised at a recent Kildare County Council meeting
The installation of traffic lights have been requested for a North Kildare bridge that is 'no longer fit for purpose', according to one local councillor.
The measure was sought by Social Democrats Cllr Paula Mulroe at the latest Clane-Maynooth Municipal District meeting, which took place on Friday, April 10 last.
Specifically, Cllr Mulroe, who appeared at the meeting by virtual means, asked Kildare County Council (KCC) to outline the annual cost involved in placing traffic lights at Healy's Bridge in Prosperous.
Replying to Cllr Mulroe's query, KCC said via the report it presented at the meeting: "The Traffic Management Section would require to carry out a full assessment of the proposal in order to provide an annual cost.
"However, KCC's policy is that no new shuttle traffic signals (one-way systems) shall be installed in the county."
KCC added: "There is no evidence that installing traffic signals with a system would reduce the amount of bridge strikes and there are safety concerns that would be raised by the installation of traffic signals."
Cllr Mulroe said that while she welcomed the report, she admitted that she was hoping 'to get a ballpark answer [for the annual cost]'.
"It would have helped us [as councillors] to make an informed decision," she added.
Cllr Mulroe also emphasised to KCC that Healy's Bridge is about 230 years old and reiterated her belief that the structure is 'not fit for purpose'.
Despite her insistence to install traffic lights at the bridge, Chris Galvin, a senior engineer with KCC who was present at the meeting, replied: "KCC is familiar with this bridge, but in reality, we would not be in favour of traffic lights [at this location]."
Social Democrats Cllr Paula Mulroe. File photograph
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme