N2 could be rerouted away from Slane bridge and village

The National Roads Authority will decide in the coming weeks whether to carry out a feasibility study on rerouteing the N2 away…

The National Roads Authority will decide in the coming weeks whether to carry out a feasibility study on rerouteing the N2 away from Slane village and its immediate environs.

According to Mr Finbar Crawley, safety engineer with the NRA, the possibility of allocating funds for such a study will be discussed at its next board meeting.

The study, if approved, would not look at a bypass of the village, the primary demand of local campaigners, but at a more extensive option involving rerouteing the main Dublin-Derry road away from the area and building another bridge over the Boyne.

Every day thousands of vehicles travel the road and cross the Boyne by Slane Bridge.

READ MORE

It is a notorious blackspot, and Mr Crawley was speaking as local people marked the first anniversary of the death of David Garvey (2), who died when a truck rolled over his mother's car as they waited at traffic lights at the northern approach to the bridge.

The Slane Bridge Action Committee (SBAC) was formed as a result of the tragedy, and yesterday its PRO, Mr John Ryle, said it was still demanding a bypass of the village amidst fears that it was only a matter of time before another person died in an accident at the bridge.

Mr Ryle and members of the committee were among about 40 men, women, children and grandchildren who attended yesterday's wreath-laying ceremony at the spot where David died.

Ms Maureen Gallagher (82) and her neighbour, Mr Peader Heavey, who live beside the bridge laid the wreath of pink carnations.

Along the side of the bridge are 22 white crosses, each representing a person who has died at the bridge in the last 40 years.

Mr Crawley said additional traffic-calming measures were being introduced to the village and should be completed by the summer. They include traffic lights at the crossroads just north of the bridge.

These lights will be linked to those at the bridge and control the passage of vehicles, particularly lorries, approaching it.

In future cars and vans will cross separately from lorries and other heavy goods vehicles.

Meanwhile a small private ceremony with close family was held in memory of David Garvey in Slane yesterday afternoon.