Council prepare report on proposed one way system on Rathdrum Main Street
The Wicklow PeopleThe Rathdrum Town Team has made a formal submission to Wicklow County Council as part of the public consultation on the proposed traffic management and one-way system for Rathdrum Main Street.
The submission reflects the views gathered from recent Town Team discussions, engagement with local groups, and feedback from residents and businesses who have expressed strong interest in the future layout, accessibility, and overall functionality of the town centre.
The team's response focuses on ensuring that any final plan for the town is “safe, practical, community-centred, and supports the long-term economic and social vitality of Rathdrum.”
Town Team Chair Tim Ryan believes the town is at an important point in its development.
“Any changes to traffic movement must enhance safety, support local businesses, and make the town a more pleasant and accessible place for everyone. Our submission aims to ensure that community voices are clearly represented and that the final plan delivers real benefits for residents, visitors, and businesses alike.”
The Town Team says they look forward to ongoing engagement with Wicklow County Council as the consultation progresses and “will continue to advocate for solutions that reflect the needs and aspirations of the community.”
The study was first launched in 2022 and an initial review in 2023 identified the key area of concern is the Main Street between the Square at Centra and the junction at the car park beside Jacob’s Well.
The consultant expressed concern in that addressing the issue on the Main Street, it could push the problems to other areas, in particular Lower Street.
The consultant then recommended that further studies of the Lower Street junction with the R-752 were carried out to ensure that the best solution to alleviate the conditions on the Main Street could be identified without compromising other areas in the town.
Additional work has been ongoing to ensure any solutions proposed take a holistic approach to the traffic in the town as a whole and will not compromise the safety of road users or residents by solving the problem in one area and creating a new problem elsewhere.
In December 2023, unanimous support was given for a new pedestrian crossing, which has now been assessed as part the ongoing traffic study in the town.
Councillor Pat Kennedy put forth a motion at the time that sought to provide funding for a pedestrian crossing at the corner of Centra in Rathdrum “in the interest of public safety”.
With no pedestrian crossing on Main Street and the local supermarket and chemist on opposite sides of the street, Cllr Kennedy heeded residents’ calls to help provide a safe place for pedestrians to cross.
“This is something that is badly needed, and the elderly people in Rathdrum have been asking for it because they cross that road over to the chemist,” Cllr Kennedy said.
Now that submissions have closed, Wicklow County Council must prepare a report summarising public feedback and providing a formal recommendation on whether to proceed.
The project will be brought before the elected members of the council for a final vote, which is expected in March.