Cllr Scott welcomes completion of Blacklion road safety works

Councillor Lourda Scott welcomes completion of long-awaited road safety works at Blacklion Manor Road

Greystones Cathaoirleach Lourda Scott has welcomed the completion of major road safety improvement works on the Blacklion Manor Road in Greystones. The project, carried out by Wicklow County Council in partnership with An Taisce and the National Transport Authority (NTA), is part of the Safe Routes to School Programme which promotes safer walking and cycling routes for children.

Councillor Scott said: “I am absolutely delighted to see these long-awaited works completed. When I first raised concerns about this road in 2021, parents were telling me daily about near misses with cars coming and going from school. I carried out a community survey, and the results were stark. Drivers were were speeding, running red lights at Lidl, and families were finding it almost impossible to cross the road safely. I met with the Council’s engineers on numerous occasions and kept it on the agenda at local meetings to make sure they stayed aware of the issues. Ultimately this pressure led to the inclusion of the road in the NTA’s Safe Routes to School funding Programme.” 

Councillor Scott also successfully lobbied for the introduction of 30 kph speed limits at school times on Blacklion Manor Road as part of Wicklow’s 2023 County Speed Limit Review. The completed safe school to school works include an upgrade of the existing pelican crossing to a toucan crossing, a new two-way segregated cycle track, a second toucan crossing further south to serve the school campus, carriageway narrowing, new bollards, colour-contrasted surfacing, and improved junction design.

Scott added: “Almost 2,000 children travel this route every day to Temple Carrig School, Greystones Educate Together National School and Gaelscoil na gCloch Liath. The local schools and parents were incredibly supportive, and their voices helped make this happen.”

She concluded: “It has taken time to get here, but this is a great example of what can be achieved when local representatives, schools and families work together. I am delighted  to have helped deliver these important safety improvements for our community.”