Road safety works completed at three schools in north Wicklow

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

Following an overwhelming response to a survey among parents, Wicklow County Council have completed road safety improvement works on the Blacklion Manor Road in Greystones.

The project, carried out by the local authority in partnership with officials from An Taisce and the National Transport Authority (NTA), is part of the Safe Routes to School Programme which helps to promote safer walking and cycling routes for children.

A survey carried out in 2024 indicated that some 98pc of the parents of children attending three schools in Greystones – Temple Carrig School, Greystones Educate Together National School and Gaelscoil na gCloch Liath – were in support of works at the location that improve student safety and put pedestrians and cyclists first.

Supported by the school board of management, the designs were developed based on best practice and guidance which addresses safety issues raised by the schools.

Councillor Lourda Scott is pleased to see these long-awaited works completed.

“When I first raised concerns about this road in 2021, parents were telling me daily about near misses with cars coming and going from school. I carried out a community survey, and the results were stark. Drivers were speeding, running red lights at Lidl, and families were finding it almost impossible to cross the road safely.

Cllr Scott met with the council’s engineers on numerous occasions and kept it on the agenda at local meetings to make sure they stayed aware of the issues.

“Ultimately this pressure led to the inclusion of the road in the NTA’s Safe Routes to School funding Programme.”

Cllr Scott also successfully lobbied for the introduction of 30 kph speed limits at school times on Blacklion Manor Road as part of Wicklow’s 2023 County Speed Limit Review.

The completed works include an upgrade of the existing pelican crossing to a toucan crossing, a new two-way segregated cycle track, a second toucan crossing further south to serve the school campus, carriageway narrowing, new bollards, colour-contrasted surfacing, and improved junction design.

Cllr Scott says the area is a busy thoroughfare and these works were badly needed.

“Almost 2,000 children travel this route every day to Temple Carrig School, Greystones Educate Together National School and Gaelscoil na gCloch Liath. The local schools and parents were incredibly supportive, and their voices helped make this happen.”

“It has taken time to get here, but this is a great example of what can be achieved when local representatives, schools and families work together.

“I am delighted to have helped deliver these important safety improvements for our community.” she added.