Congestion concerns spark call for review of new Kells Road–LDR4 Junction in Meath
A Navan councillor has called for a “full reassessment” of the newly completed junction at Kells Road and the LDR4 route to address congestion and delays.
Aontú councillor Emer Tóibín said the recently opened junction lacks balance between the needs of motorists and those of pedestrians and cyclists.
“We all agree that pedestrians and cyclists must feel safe on our roads — that’s not in dispute. But there also has to be balance between the needs of the motorist, the majority road user, and the smaller cohort of pedestrians and cyclists,” she said.
“At the new Kells Road/LDR4 junction, that balance simply isn’t reflected in the decision to remove the roundabout and replace it with a signalised junction. As things stand, it is clearly working against motorists on one of Navan’s busiest routes.”
The 1.2km link road, which officially opened on October 24, connects the N51/R147 Kells Road at Abbeyland to the L3409 Ratholdron Road, north of the River Blackwater.
Delivered by Meath County Council in partnership with the National Transport Authority, the scheme is intended to ease congestion in Navan town centre and improve access to the M3 motorway.
Said to be designed to accommodate all road users, the LDR4 includes two 3.25-metre traffic lanes, 2-metre cycle tracks and 2.5-metre footpaths on both sides, along with two signalised junctions providing pedestrian crossings.
Cllr Tóibín said the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS) requires schemes to support active travel while also responding to “local context and the needs of all users”.
“That balance has not been achieved here,” she said.
“Instead, we’re seeing increased congestion, longer delays and growing frustration among everyday road users. Active travellers must be safe, absolutely — but motorists cannot be treated as an afterthought. Navan needs infrastructure that works for everyone.”
The councillor said the junction, which carries around 27,000 vehicles daily, prioritises active travel over motorists. While the layout may meet DMURS criteria on paper, she said it is “failing in practice”, creating confusion and delays for the majority of road users.
“When a scheme doesn’t work in the real world, DMURS also allows for review and adjustment. That’s what Navan needs now,” she said.
“I’ll keep pressing the council for a full reassessment so we get a junction that is safe, practical and balanced for everyone.”