A councillor criticised the council’s response after a motion to explore a new pedestrian footbridge over the River Boyne was rejected. The Obelisk Bridge carries heavy daily traffic and remains hazardous for pedestrians despite recent upgrade works. The motion cited significant pedestrian movements and vehicle traffic at Oldbridge, where the narrow road network is used by cyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles, leaving many people uneasy. The council director said a high-level assessment was completed but development is constrained by the site’s conservation and protection designations. The Obelisk Bridge is a protected structure and recorded National Monument, preventing physical alterations. The lack of pedestrian and cycling infrastructure in nearby roads was also noted as a road safety concern when transitioning from a dedicated space to a shared rural network.
"People are taking their lives in their hands when they walk across the Obelisk Bridge towards Oldbridge House"
"The narrow road network at this location is used by cyclists, pedestrians and vehicles, and many people feel very uneasy travelling this route."
"Unfortunately, there are a number of constraints to the development of such a piece of infrastructure at this location, including those associated with being located within a Special Conservation Area, Special Protection Area as well as a Special Area of High Scenic Quality, while the Obelisk Bridge is both a protected structure and a recorded National Monument, thus prohibiting any physical alterations to the structure."
"The absence of pedestrian/cycling infrastructure in the adjoining road network "would also highlight road safety concerns in the context of pedestrians transitioning from what would be a dedicated space to the current shared rural local network arr"
#pedestrian-safety #footbridge-infrastructure #river-boyne #conservation-and-protected-structures #local-government
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