Cost of Dundalk ‘blackspot’ upgrade could soar unless council ‘moves faster’
The cost of upgrading a critical section of the R132 in Dundalk, an “accident blackspot” at Haggardstown, could double if Louth County Council does not move quickly to progress the scheme, councillors have warned.
The concerns were raised at a meeting of Dundalk Municipal District as the local authority presented plans for the R132 Xerox–Greengates ActiveTravel scheme and sought Part 8 planning approval to proceed.
However, councillors cautioned that reduced funding for Active Travel projects from the National Transport Authority (NTA) could leave the wider 2.8km scheme stalled indefinitely.
Members were told that one element of the project — upgrades at Sexton’s junction on the Dublin Road — is more likely to proceed, as it is being funded through Louth County Council’s own capital programme.
Cllr Marianne Butler said it was hoped that works at Sexton’s junction could be advanced even if the remainder of the Xerox–Greengates scheme is put on hold due to funding constraints.
She said reducing speed limits along the route was “crucial,” particularly for schoolchildren who regularly have to cross the road after getting off buses.
“They’re left playing chicken with traffic,” she said.
While welcoming the plans, Cllr Butler said the “real issue here is funding”, and expressed frustration at the lack of progress on projects previously approved by councillors.
“When are we actually going to do this? It is just so frustrating,” she said. “We have come up with a brilliant design to make it safer at the Fairways, but funding is not coming through from central government.”
She questioned whether the council could set aside funding to make the Fairways junction safer “in the next year or two” and criticised what she described as a piecemeal approach to road improvements.
“This is going to be the third scheme we have approved in Dundalk, and it just annoys me that they are sitting on a shelf and nothing is happening with them,” she said.
Senior Engineer John O’Hagan told councillors that works at Sexton’s junction are currently expected to begin by late 2027.
Cllr Butler said that timeframe raised “real concerns” that the €1.2 million allocated for the project would not be sufficient by the time construction begins.
“We might need to double that by the time we are starting it,” she warned. “We need to move faster to provide this infrastructure.”
Cllr Maeve Yore queried whether the plans for four new “in‑line” bus stops would result in buses stopping directly on the carriageway, rather than pulling into a bay, and warned that this could lead to congestion. She also asked whether additional street lighting would be provided along the route.
Officials confirmed that “in‑line” bus stops require buses to stop on the road, while offline stops would likely involve acquiring private land.
Cllr Ciaran Fisher welcomed the scheme, describing the R132 as “probably the most dangerous road in the county at the moment.”
“It is an accident blackspot. Making it safer for pedestrians to cross and for motorists to exit junctions is a step in the right direction,” he said, adding that reducing speed limits would further improve safety.
However, he also raised concerns about the layout proposed at Sexton’s junction, suggesting that left‑turn movements for HGVs and larger vehicles could be difficult and that a slip lane might need to be considered.
Cllr Kevin Meenan also welcomed the plans reaching Part 8 stage, saying the road “badly needs an upgrade”. He said he had witnessed traffic gridlock on the route on numerous occasions.
Councillors were told that stop lines at Sexton’s junction have been designed to sit far enough back to accommodate larger vehicles turning.
Cllr Shane McGuinness echoed concerns about the introduction of in‑line bus stops, warning that four new stops on a busy road could result in heavy traffic backlogs. While welcoming improvements at Sexton’s junction, he also warned that rising costs could ultimately jeopardise the plans.
Cathaoirleach Cllr Robbie Nash acknowledged members’ concerns around funding but welcomed the prioritisation of works at Sexton’s junction. He also suggested that with a significant increase in traffic lights planned for the area, the system should be overseen by a monitored traffic operator similar to that used in Dublin.
Responding, Mr O’Hagan acknowledged the frustration felt by councillors when schemes fail to progress after Part 8 approval.
“But, once these projects are approved they are ready to go if funding becomes available,” he said.
The Part 8 planning approval was granted after being proposed by Cllr Marianne Butler and seconded by Cllr Maeve Yore.