New path at Drogheda’s Bridge of Peace needs to be opened to allow people to avoid dangerous junction, group says

An underpass path under the north bank of Drogheda’s Bridge of Peace, a town-centre dual carriageway, was recently built but never opened. Instead, a locked gate was installed on part of the path.

A local campaign group is now calling for the path to be opened after it was built as part of the planning permission for a new apartment block at the northwest corner of the bridge.

The Drogheda Cycling, a campaign group, said the path along the River Boyne from Fr Connolly Way to Mill Lane, once opened, would allow vulnerable road users to avoid the very busy Georges Street and Trinity Street junction at the north of the Bridge of Peace.

Noel Hogan, chairperson for Drogheda Cycling, said: “We welcomed the development of the underpass as it allowed many cyclists and pedestrians to avoid one of Drogheda’s busiest junctions. This would have been beneficial for all and reduced the danger of collisions at what is already a notoriously busy road. This closure is a backwards move which essentially forces motorists and vulnerable road users into an already congested space.”

“The solution is simple – remove the gate and allow pedestrians, cyclists and less able road users to avoid this bottleneck. It is an easy solution which requires no new infrastructure,” he said.

Hogan added: “Given our climate commitments and the unacceptably high levels of carnage on our roads, we need every small win we can get.”

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