New Shop Maynooth

I wish they would just focus on the two ring roads and build a second exit off the M4 to the college, it would calm traffic through the town

The updates being done on Mill Street are definitely necessary. It's chaos there midweek with people walking all over the road as the paths are too narrow, so bikes are then pushed out into the traffic to avoid running into pedestrians.

Loads of young kids cycling to the schools around there in the mornings also, it's really dangerous.

Yes the ring road is needed obviously, but this work is also definitely needed, despite the temporary disruption it will cause.

There's a very long term plan to make some of the town centre one way and restricted access except for buses.

It is extremely unlikely that TII will ever allow a second M4 interchange - a new one serving the Eastern Ring / college will require removing the existing one or maybe just retaining it as off-ramps, or a single-sided setup. Traffic from the North of the town would be better served then by heading to the Leixlip West interchange; indeed they often already are.

I've seen a few of those plans, that when ring road (even just Eastern side) is done, town centre will be bus only from Church, to Ely/Girls school to Glenroyal to Old College/Castle entrance - with also proposals to make the Square in centre a large bus interchange stop.

All this other traffic managing stuff coming in now, is just rearranging deckchairs on Titanic stuff, especially since largest schools are on one side of town, and older population centre and motorway on other.

Just build the ring road, provide an alternative, people will use it. Hopefully now that Meath CoCo have some skin in the game (Moygaddy Develepment) last, the North Eastern part of the ring road might actually happen, after being part of the Moyglare Hall planning from 2006

Did the original plans for Mill St not have a new footbridge between Coffee Mill and Zambrero? Did I didn't imagine that

It did. As a way of allowing more space for the cycle paths on the existing bridge.

It's in the images I've seen about the works, so it' still there. But not mentioned in that text document above

They are adding an additional footbridge beside the current bridge, at the Coffee Mill to Manor Mills.

So yes they are effectively widening it

Deleted all that - thought Toucan meant Zebra type crossing, not just bikes and pedestrians on a light

Maynooth has been designated of a urban growth centre, with an expectation that ic can take an extra 10,000 odd residents over next 10 years - and is one of the reasons that railways etc are being upgraded out this way.

And yes the ring road is there precisely to allow for more housing estates and cars, that's exactly what's planned - although hopefully with improved public transport this will be less proportionate. The issue facing Maynooth now, is that all the housing and developement has started without any of the road or rail upgrades. And since this Growth Centre is based on its proximityand access to Dublin, and is seen as a commuter town; cycling is not really an option. Cyclist can't use a motorway, greenway is not complete and even when is not direct, most direct cycle route goes by Intel (currently with massive roadworks), Leixlip with steep hills and minimal cycle paths and almost to Lucan before rejoining N4.

Traffic issues in Maynooth are rarely caused by speeding, bad parking is also not that big an issue IMO at peak times; and in fact all your points about drivers and roads point more to you having a specific agenda than really looking at reality and alternatives.

If planners want/expect Maynooth to expand then infrastructure upgrades have to keep pace. Housing is being rapidly built while rail upgrade and ring road are still in planning limbo and facing more and more delays. The large schools built away from main transport hubs, schools that serve students from Kilcock, Clane and Dunboyne regions as well as the University expanding to bring in more and more students from across a wide area is main cause of the congestion. No expansion or provision of alternatives, while more residents and students are brought in immediately = congestion, not someone speeding.

But on paper the plans look nice, everything to planners looks lovely - reality is grim

https://consult.maynooth.ie/en/system/files/materials/6/Maynooth%20JLAP%20Predraft%20Issues%20Paper.pdf

The roadside signs say the Mill St works will be until December, already overrunning 🤣

In shop news, Navan Carpets are setting up in one of the kiosks below Tesco

The Mill Street works aren't taking place to reduce the amount of motorists using the town though?

They're being done to improve the experience and safety for pedestrians and cyclists in the area. Once the works are done, nothing will have changed for motorists. But all the people who use the street (mostly pedestrians) will be able to walk and cycle around the place with a bit more ease and peace of mind.

I cycle/walk/drive through that street regularly and if I'm down there on a busy afternoon it's chaos at the moment the way it is for pedestrians in particular.

Groups of people waiting on the narrow side of the pedestrian lights which blocks up the path and means people can't walk past, never mind getting a buggy or kids bike past.

I really don't understand the whataboutery here in terms of the ring road. Multiple things need to be done all over the town, why not start with this?

Fusion says it's closed for refurbishment and will reopen under new management

Hope the menu doesn't change too much, really like it in there. It was always dead in there though, maybe they'll make it more appealing to eat in