New limits come into effect today
A NUMBER of changes to speed limits on regional roads throughout the county are expected to be implemented following the review of the Louth County Council Road Traffic Speed Limits ByeLaws.
The 2009 Bye-laws came into operation on the April 15 2010 and, at that time, it was agreed that the council would undertake regular reviews of the Bye-laws.
The review started in August 2010 and councillors were asked to submit any proposed amendments for consideration.
These, together with submissions received from the public and interested parties, were reviewed by Gerry Kelly, Senior Engineer, and his recommendations on the various proposals were considered by the members of the Transportation SPC at their meeting on October 13 2010.
A total of 36 proposals were considered and the SPC agreed that the recommendations go before the full council for approval so that the statutory public consultation process could be started.
Mr. Kelly recommended that the speed limit be revised at seven locations and at the December 2010 meeting the members approved these recommendations. They also requested that a number of additional locations be reviewed bringing the total to 14. The public consultation process involving the gardaí, the National Roads Authority and the town councils and all submissions were received by the end of September 2011. Amendments to a speed limit on a National Primary or National Secondary road require the approval of the NRA and the organisation refused consent for the proposal on the Inner Relief Road at Ath Leathan in Dundalk and on the N52 south of Ardee. However, they agreed to a 60kph speed limit in Ardee rather than the proposed 50kph. 'This is considered to be acceptable and will be included in the next revision process which will commence in January 2012,' Director of Services Joan Martin told members.
She has recommended that the Bye-laws come into operation today (February 1) and confirmed that the next review of the Bye-laws started in January.
She had asked councillors to submit any amendments for consideration by yesterday, January 31, and said it was her intention to reivew the speed limits at schools as part of this process.
