‘Disastrous proposal’ put on hold as Waterford residents express opposition

A “disastrous proposal” for a road in Waterford city has been put on hold amid strong opposition from local residents.

The Mayor of Waterford City and County, Councillor Seamus Ryan, discussed the topic at the December Metropolitan District meeting.

He referred to the Active Travel Scheme proposed for the Inner Ring Road in the city.

Mayor Ryan said: “I want to raise the proposal for the Active Travel from the Kilbarry Roundabout right up to the top of the Folly.

“That to me is a disastrous proposal, which was echoed by the residents living along that area there.”

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He said that himself and a number of councillors attended a public meeting which was held at the St. John’s Pastoral Centre.

At that meeting, residents in attendance “let their feelings be known in no uncertain terms”.

He said that residents in his own estate, Ursuline Court, as well as in Pearse Park and surrounding areas, are all “very, very unhappy about it”.

Mayor Ryan questioned why there were plans for a two-way cycle lane on one side of the road, as opposed to a single cycle lane on each side of the road.

He said the proposed layout “does not make any traffic sense”, adding that it would be dangerous for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists alike.

He continued: “So once again, I did it at the public meeting and I’m doing it again today, I’m asking for a complete withdrawal of that scheme and a rethink and [to] come back to the council with a proper plan.

“A plan that doesn’t put the cyclists going on the wrong side of the road, which is effectively what is being proposed there.

“I don’t know what the reason for it is because the bike stand is on one side of the road and cyclists are being asked to take their bikes and walk across the road, rather than having it on the one side coming from the roundabout at the RSC right up to the top of the Folly.”

In response to Mayor Ryan, Senior Engineer Paul Johnston said: “We have agreed to a review of the proposed Inner Ring Road Active Travel Scheme with a view to assessing whether the combined cycle lane should be one side or separate on both sides.

“We’ll review that and certainly bring the results of that back to you at a workshop.”

Mayor Ryan also raised the issue of the surface on a section of the Inner Ring Road.

He stated: “This is an issue I’ve raised [at] I’d say the last two meetings anyway and there’s no progress and the issue is getting progressively worse.

“It’s in relation to the Inner Ring Road from the Folly roundabout down to the SuperValu roundabout on the Tramore Road.

“That roundabout is breaking up particularly badly and we’ve done nothing about it since I first raised it about three or four months ago now.

“So I’m asking here again today if we could do some work on it [and] stop it from breaking out. It needs to be resurfaced, as a layman even I can see that. It’s breaking up completely.”

In response to Mayor Ryan, Mr Johnston said that that section of the Inner Ring Road has been included in the council’s resurfacing programme for 2026.

He said that the Roads Department wants to get started on it as early as possible in the New Year.