The scheme has proven successful with a recorded increase in active travel commutes by school age people from 109 (2016 Census) to 271 (2022 census) which represents an increase from 10% to 24% of the school age population in Bettystown commuting by Active Travel modes. In addition, the scheme provided a vehicular traffic route to service zoned lands.
The constructed scheme involved 800m of new single carriageway road with active travel provision on both sides of the carriageway, upgrade of 250m of carriageway with active travel provision, construction of 2 new roundabouts and upgrade of an existing roundabout to an active travel layout and construction of a new local car park. The scheme also included the provision of a new zebra crossing and the upgrade of an existing Pelican crossing on the existing coastal road route. Service provision on the scheme included Public Lighting, Power supply (Lighting and Belisha Beacons), Telecom ducting, surface water drainage with SUDS measures minor water main works and ESB diversions.
CSEA were appointed by Meath County Council in September 2015 and undertook:
- Options Assessment
- Ecological and Environmental Assessments (AA and EIA)
- Preliminary Design
- Part 8 Planning
Part 8 Planning was approved by Meath County Council in June 2016.
CSEA were subsequently successfully appointed (further to competitive procurement) by Meath County Council to:
- Deliver the Scheme through Statutory Processes (CPO including Oral Hearing)
- Detailed Design
- Tender and Award
- Construction – providing Employer’s Representative and Site Supervision
- Handover
In a pilot initiative, Meath County Council put it to the local communities to vote for a preferred option of a road name. The poll results, which attracted almost 1,000 votes, gave the preferred name of ‘Tara Road – Bóthar na Teamhrach’ in recognition of the famous Tara Brooch (700 AD) that been found locally on the beach at Bettystown c. 1850.
