Celtic Roads Group November 2005
Letter sent to Ian Cunningham, Celtic Roads - November 2005.
Mr Ian Cunningham
Manager
Celtic Roads Group
Date 12/11/05
Dear Mr Cunningham,
Castleblaney Road Motorway Junction.
I want to acknowledge the work you are doing for pedestrians onthe Castleblaney Road motorway bridge particularly on the northern side. I see that you have extended the footpath and have installed ducting under the slip roads for some form of traffic signalling. May I suggest that this be a flashing amber light similar to the pedestrian lights on the Avenue Road roundabout, or a full zebra crossing. In both cases this will offer substantial safety facilities to pedestrians while at the same time minimising any potential traffic backup at the two roundabouts.
It's disappointing that the NRA still appears not to have a positive cycling policy. In the context of the National Transport 21 Plan only recently announced by Minister Martin Cullen, he appears to have completely ignored cyclists and pedestrians. In contrast your efforts to accommodate us is very much appreciated. Thank you.
May I suggest that signage be erected promoting both cycling and walking and allowing cyclists to share the use of this northern footpath - but giving priority to pedestrians. Please ensure that there are gradual ramps to allow child buggies, invalided carriages and cyclists to easily mount the Footpath / Cycle Path. Ideally it would have been better to have this path wider to properly accommodate both. There will be very little competition however between cyclists and pedestrians in my view. There are plenty of examples of narrow cycle lanes and footpaths around the country.
The importance of this provision on your part is better appreciated in considering some of the motions passed by County Councillors. Please see our web site. These motions call for the continuation of the cycle / footpath on the northern side of the Castleblaney road towards Dundalk as far as the two Secondary Schools. Provision for pedestrians and cyclists by the Celtic Roads Group at the motorway junction makes it more likely that we will be able to obtain any future CPO's necessary to continue the cycle lane to the De La Salle and Dún Lughaidh schools.
Cycle Lane parallel with the motorway.
Please find minutes that I had made of our meeting dated 3rd of March 2005, as well as a footnote of my comments. Perhaps you might correct any misrepresentations I made. I include also a photograph of the 10 metre wide strip outside the motorway sound barrier between the Belliewsbridge Road and the Balriggan Road along with comments.
Assuming your your support we are proposing that a 4 to 5 metre strip already in public ownership, be returned back to Louth County Council for the cycle lane, so as to avoid spending yet more public money, a CPO, in acquiring land outside the motorway perimeter fence. Please consider the various safety measures we are proposing to avoid legal access to the motorway.
Our group believe that the cycle lane route parallel with the motorway will be achieved more quickly than waiting for another 10 to 15 years for the completion of the Western Inner Relief Road. A letter from you supporting this proposal from the Celtic Roads Group will give our group the necessary assurance in progressing this proposal with the County Councillors.
Ballymascanlon Roundabouts.
Please also find a photograph of young cyclists at the old Ballymascanlon roundabout. It shows the hazards at the roundabout and the amount of work yet to be done in encouraging and assuring parents regarding their children cycling. Again let me thank you for the assurances given by you at the time, to the County Councillors, to provide cable ducting at the roundabout exits in return for their support for the Motorway Sound Barriers.
Is it your intention to provide traffic calming measures at the roundabout as well as zebra crossings for pedestrians and cyclists at roundabout exits? I presume that the cycle lane surfaces on all approach roads, including Majors Hollow roundabout will be finished over the coming months.
Finally can I thank you and the Celtic Roads Group for the cycling and pedestrian provisions already provided or shortly to be completed and assure you that any additional actions undertaken by CRG as part of a Corporate Social Responsibility Agenda will be warmly welcomed by the Dundalk Cycling Alliance.
Yours Sincerely
www.dundalkcyclingalliance.com
Copy to Martina Maloney, County Manager.
(Our correspondance to Mr Ian Cunningham of the Celtic roads Group has not been responded to to date.)
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