Raised pedestrian crossings ruled out in this Kildare town despite danger

Kildare County Council has ruled out installing raised pedestrian crossings at a Celbridge location said to be a danger to pedestrians.

Cllr David Trost (FF), tabling his motion at the June meeting of Celbridge-Leixlip Municipal District, asked that the council install raised pedestrian crossings at the existing crossings on the Dublin, Ardclough, and Hazelhatch Roads, Celbridge, “in conjunction with the future Boardwalk Development at the Bridge.”

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Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Trost said there is an issue with the bridge in question; this is because there are three junctions and three pedestrian crossings “very close together”, creating a hazard for pedestrians.

While Cllr Trost admitted the issue was perhaps not quite a concern for people familiar with the area, he said he had personally witnessed others “run” across the pedestrian crossings because cars were approaching at speed.

He said while he understood the council's response to his motion, there is nevertheless a problem at the crossings which needs to be addressed.

Cllr Trost suggested this may be by means of raised pedestrian crossings at the location, as per his motion, or additional signage in the area.

According to the Fianna Fáil councillor, pedestrians are “having to make a run for it” simply because vehicles are approaching the pedestrian crossings at speed, with motorists unaware that there is a crossing there.

Cllr Nuala Killeen said the situation is complicated by the fact that there are two bus-stops on the Dublin side of the location in question, and said the entire junction needs to be looked at.

“Everybody's been waiting on the new bridge for decades”, she pointed out, asking that in the meantime if the location could be assessed for safety reasons.

A council official, responding to councillors, conceded that with respect to the Celbridge junction it is “a complicated layout.”

He said that there had previously been a suggestion to simplify the junction by closing one of the approaches to vehicular traffic, but at the time “it wasn't felt that that was the time to do it.”

From an engineering viewpoint, he noted, simplifying the junction was the preferred option.

He said the council could go back and look at the plans it had previously, and “maybe” ask the NTA (National Transport Authority) for their input, then come back to members to see if it is an initiative worth taking forward.

In terms of Cllr Trost's original request, a report from the council noted: “There are no plans to install raised crossings at this location. The Active Travel Scheme has been the subject of a public consultation process and contract documentation of the construction of the bridge are near completion.

“Raised crossings would impact on the drainage levels of the existing carriageway and may result in a reduction in the level of service for pedestrians at this location as well as directly affecting adjacent landowners.”