Alarm raised over delays to safety work on main Waterford to Wexford road

The alarm has been raised over delays to the roll-out of long-awaited safety improvements on the main Waterford to Wexford road.

Concerns surrounding the N25 were recently discussed by a Kilkenny councillor, who has called for works to be expedited.

​The issue was raised at a recent meeting of the Piltown Municipal District, held in the Rhu Glenn Hotel in Slieverue.

At the meeting, Kilkenny councillors were updated on plans for €300,000 worth of safety works along the busy route.

The proposed works include safety and visibility improvements at various junctions along the N25.

Elected members were informed that a draft options and feasibility report has been prepared and submitted to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) for review, with a response expected this month.

A programme of works will follow once the necessary approvals are secured.

However, Cllr Fidelis Doherty expressed frustration at the lack of progress, stating that “there are concerns that those works haven't happened”.

She said the local community had spent “a long time waiting for action to be taken” and called for the improvements to be “expedited”.

Responding, Area Engineer John Tennyson said Kilkenny County Council had fulfilled its obligations but could not commence the works until TII approved the proposals.

He said the council remained in “ongoing liaison” with TII, adding that “hopefully whatever clarifications are sought can be rectified”.

The discussion took place in the same hotel where hundreds of concerned residents gathered in June 2025 to demand urgent action over road safety on the N25 between Waterford and Glenmore.

That public meeting, organised by road safety campaigners and the Irish Road Victims Association, attracted an estimated 500 to 600 people, with speakers highlighting the history of fatal collisions along the route.

Campaigners called for immediate measures, including improved visibility at junctions, traffic calming and additional signage, while continuing to press for a more substantial upgrade of the road.

There has been some progress since that gathering, including the announcement of a reduction in the speed limit from 100km/h to 80km/h on part of the route.

However, campaigners have consistently maintained that further improvements are needed to address longstanding safety concerns.