Plan for ‘advanced’ notice of major roadworks welcomed in Meath
Advance warnings of major roadworks could soon be issued to local representatives after a motion calling for better communication was brought forward at a recent municipal district meeting.
At the January meeting of the Ashbourne Municipal District, the proposal submitted by Sinn Féin councillor Helen Meyer sought that elected members be notified ahead of any significant roadworks requiring stop-and-go traffic management “that may result in major traffic disruption.”
In its response, Meath County Council said: “Stop and Go traffic management can be implemented in schemes being delivered by many different teams, as well as works by contractors working under Road Opening Licences and by utility companies.”
All of these groups, the council said, will now be asked to provide notification to elected members when major works of this nature are planned.
However, they also cautioned that traffic management plans “can change at short notice due to weather and other circumstances.”
“It will not be feasible to provide detailed traffic management details for works under Road Opening Licences,” the local authority added.
Speaking afterwards, Cllr Meyer welcomed the response. She said: “When people know that there are roadworks being done, they will be able to make arrangements around them. That’s why it is really important to have that information.”
Cllr Meyer said this would be the first time councillors would be notified.
“Now, in the future, I would be able to warn people about these roadworks,” she said.