Deputy Emer Higgins, TD for Dublin Mid West, has welcomed public consultation on the redesign of the Hazelhatch Bridge junction, in order to facilitate the W6 orbital bus route. The W6 route launched last month in two halves, one route servicing Newcastle to Tallaght and the other servicing Hazelhatch to Maynooth, despite the original plan of a single route from Tallaght to Maynooth.
“The new W62 bus has been a really welcome addition to our public transport network in Newcastle and Saggart – and the fact that it stops at Avoca in Rathcoole has been brilliant too. But, there has been huge frustration that the bus line doesn’t link commuters from these villages to Hazelhatch Train Station or students to Maynooth University – as was the original proposal. The reason for this is that the approach to the humpback bridge at Hazelhatch has been deemed too narrow for two time-tabled public buses to pass each other safely. This is something I raised during the initial consultation on the route design and it was so disappointing that no action was taken by the NTA since then in advance of the launch of the route. It’s been particularly frustrating for people from Newcastle who live so close to the rain line but can’t access it through public transport and for students from Saggart, Rathcoole and Newcastle who go to school in Celbridge or college in Maynooth,” explained Deputy Emer Higgins.
“I have been in ongoing contact with the NTA, the Council and with Go-Ahead Ireland who operate this route these past couple of years. I even organised for an engineer to come out and carry out a site inspection at the location with me earlier this year so I could put forward solutions to the NTA. I am really pleased that on foot of this groundwork, that the Council are now bringing proposals for the redesign of the junction, to allow two public transport buses safely pass, to public consultation. This will mean extended the traffic-lighted one way system by 88m on one side of the bridge and 46m on the other,” continued Higgins.
“I would encourage anyone who would benefit from the link between our villages and Hazelhatch Train Station, Celbridge and Maynooth, to log on to the consultation portal and have their say. It’s also important that local residents who live along or commute through this route to engage in the consultation so any concerns they may have can be ironed out. I will keep contact with the NTA up to ensure that budget for the redesign is provided and will continue to advocate for this work to be carried out as soon as possible,” concluded Emer Higgins.
Further information can be found at consult.sdublincoco.ie and members of the public can make their submissions through this portal.
