A step in the right direction: Progress on Kilkenny’s ‘Road of Death’ as design consultants appointed
A major step has been taken today in the delivery of upgrades to a road in county Kilkenny known locally as the ‘Road of Death’.
Kilkenny County Council has announced the appointment of a design consultants team appointed to N24 Waterford to Cahir Roads Project.
This scheme is intended to rectify the problems on the road between Waterford and Carrick-on-Suir on the section between Mooncoin and Piltown, which since it opened more than 20 years ago has seen more than its fair share of road deaths, as well as countless horrific accidents.
Ove Arup and Partners Ireland Ltd have been employed to assist with the development through the planning and design phases of the N24 Scheme after the project was identified for pre-appraisal and early planning within the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018 – 2027.
Today’s announcement is considered to be a major milestone in the delivery of this project and for those who have long campaigned for flyovers to be added to the road at the Piltown and Fiddown junctions.
Speaking at the announcement, Colette Byrne, Chief Executive Kilkenny County Council said: “The advancement of this project is of vital significance to the County of Kilkenny and to the entire South East region.
“A better, safer road network leads to improvements in employment, education, healthcare and social cohesion – as well as saving lives.
“All these benefits will lead to greater regional and local connectivity and accessibility to the South East of the Country,” Ms Byrne concluded.
The design of the N24 transport corridor is intended to significantly improve road safety; reduce collisions; increase transport efficiency through a reduction in journey times over the length of the scheme; and improved journey time certainty.
The stakeholders also want to enhance the environmental quality of the towns on the existing route through the removal of through traffic; provide a corridor of transport infrastructure that will encourage and support existing investment and employment in the South East; and create greater connectivity to ports and airports in the south, east and west of the country.
