Kinnegad intersection upgrades discussed

Concerns about safety and accessibility at the entrance from Kinnegad Main Street to Boreen Bradach were raised by Cllr Denis Leonard at the November meeting of Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District.

Cllr Leonard proposed widening the junction and implementing speed ramps or other safety measures to improve visibility and ease of access, particularly with the expected addition of a new housing estate in the area.

The council indicated that they would evaluate the site for potential construction of a tabletop ramp as part of the 2025 budget, but the Labour councillor suggested exploring discussions with a local landowner to allow for a wider junction, potentially with a roundabout, to better accommodate increased traffic from the Bun Daire estate extension.

District engineer Pat Kavanagh confirmed that pre-planning meetings with the estate developer had taken place. “I have put the developer on notice that we will be conditioning him to upgrade the footpaths right up to it and the junction itself,” he stated.

Funding

A plea that further funding be sought for street enhancement works at Kinnegad was also made at the November meeting by Cllr Leonard, who also asked that municipal district officials liaise with Bord Gáis on the possibility of a natural gas connection for Kinnegad considering that there are two gas lines running close to the town, on the Boreen Bradach and on the Edenderry Road.

The response from the district to the first request stated that officials will work with the Kinnegad community to access future rural support schemes for town enhancement.

Welcoming the response, Cllr Leonard remarked that while the area had received town renewal funding before, it had covered the cost of only two thirds of the work required.

“Fore got about one and a half times the money we got that time, which was great for them but it was just not quite enough to do the projects that we hoped to finish, so I welcome that answer,” he said.

To his representation on the natural gas issue, Cllr Leonard received an undertaking that the district would issue a letter to Bord Gáis if the members were in agreement.