Due to the opening of the Kildare section of the M9 motorway many of our businesses and historic landmarks have become part of the hidden Ireland according to Fine Gael’s Cllr Richard Daly
“While I am delighted with the development of the motorway which will be of benefit to all road users both locally and nationally, I am disappointed at the exclusion of an area of South Kildare from adequate signage which makes them inaccessible to commuters.
We have mixed signals coming from the NRA and the RSA where we are told that driver fatigue can be a factor in motor accidents while at the same time not providing adequate service stops on our motorways. In the Crookstown, Killgowan, Castledermot and Ballytore/Moone area we have a ready made service area which has been totally overlooked in the rollout of the motorway. Not only could the use of this area be of benefit to drivers but it could also be a sustainable industry for the area.
Even local historic and tourist sites have been ignored by the new development and the Moone High Cross is not indicated on any of the signs on the motorway and only the intrepid traveller would chance leaving the motorway to explore this part of the country.
The idea of developing our road network should make all of Ireland more accessible and not simple the final destinations. Our signage on the motorways should accommodate drivers by indicating local amenities and notable sites. We should give opportunity for travellers to take breaks and to sample the local area.
While formerly journeys took us through every town and village on our route, today scarcely know which county we are in and are not encouraged to sample the hidden Ireland.
I am anxious for people to visit Kildare and not just drive through it and this can only happen if we highlight our ameneties and visitor attractions through signage on the motorway which traverses our county. Research shows that signage also helps relieve boredom on long journeys so let’s capitalise on this and let drivers know what our county has to offer.” Said Cllr Daly
