Town gates proposal may be considered after speed review

The southern approach at Nicholastown.

Any consideration of 'town gate' traffic-calming measures for Kilcullen will have to wait until County Kildare's speed limits are next reviewed, the recent meeting of the Kildare-Newbridge MD was told, writes Brian Byrne. The measure was raised by Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer by way of motion, for both Kilcullen and Athgarvan.

Officials said the speed limits review will take place this year and that it would be more appropriate to plan the settlement

gateway locations once the process is complete, and these can be incorporated into any proposed changes to speed limits.

Cllr O'Dwyer said she didn't disagree with the report, but that it would be prudent to carry out a design review at the locations in both towns in preparation for the implementation of traffic-calming. 

"The Kilcullen Road, which was the old Dublin Road, was designed for a speed of 80 to 100 miles per hour, as it was a main road," she said. "In my opinion, driver behaviour is a direct result of the design of a road and not the signage on the road. In the case of the Kilcullen road, the current design encourages motorists to drive at a higher speed because it is a straight, wide road. In the case of Athgarvan, again, the road is designed for a higher speed than will be implemented through the speed review." 

The councillor commented that speed remains the number one issue in all of Kildare's towns and villages, particularly in towns with wide approach roads like Kilcullen and in villages like Athgarvan, which are being used as rat runs to access Naas and the motorway. 

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