Swords Segregated Cycle Lanes Upgrade Safety for Local Community

New segregated cycle lanes have launched at St. Cronan’s Avenue and Brackenstown Road, Swords improving pedestrian and cyclist safety for the local community.

Fingal County Council’s Department of Climate, Environment and Active Travel ran a public consultation in Spring 2022 when they first published proposals for the area, and engaged with local residents, schools, businesses, and organisations to plan a solution that would calm traffic, improve road safety, and provide children with the best possible journey to school by bike and on foot.

The new and upgraded cycle lanes are separated from the existing road by bollards, line markings and coloured surfaces. A new two-way cycle lane has been added connecting St. Cronan’s Avenue to the local Junior and Senior National Schools. This new stretch helps children travelling to and from school or the local park to travel independently without worry when cycling, scooting or walking.

These new cycle lanes form part of a wider programme of works in the local area. A series of junctions adjoining St. Cronan’s Avenue and Brackenstown Road have been tightened to slow approaching traffic and shorten crossing distances for those on foot. New crossings have been installed on the route along with a new roundabout at the junction of St. Cronan’s Avenue and Brackenstown Road to assist in managing the flow of pedestrian, cycle and motor traffic, particularly at busy peak hours.

Entrance to the St. Cronan’s shared school campus has been transformed with a raised pedestrian crossing, traffic signals, colourful pencil bollards, planting and seating. The new design slows vehicles on approach to the school and draws attention to children at play. It discourages cars idling at the school gate, which has led to cleaner air quality and reduced the risk of accidents occurring where children had previously been moving between vehicles to enter the school at drop off or leave at pick up time.

Mayor of Fingal Cllr Adrian Henchy says ‘Creating local Active Travel connections is vital. The children attending school at St. Cronan’s will grow up making their way to school under their own steam, whether it be cycling or walking, and will learn that choosing Active Travel is best for their mind and body as well as being best for the planet.’

Chief Executive of Fingal, AnnMarie Farrelly says ‘We are beginning to see Swords transform into a really well-connected place where people can avail of a wide array of sustainable transport options like walking, bike sharing and public transport. This project is part of the vision for Swords sustainable growth in the years to come but it also delivers real, immediate benefits for local residents today’.

Breen Doris, Senior Executive Engineer with the Active Travel unit led the project and says ‘The new cycle lanes are complete and already in use by lots of people travelling through the area daily, but this project has benefits reaching well beyond the cyclist. We’ve made it much safer to cross the road at junctions along the route by making the crossing distance shorter. The new raised crossings are also helping to slow traffic as it travels and this improves safety for everyone whether they are driving or out of the car. Active Travel has benefits for the entire community and we look forward to seeing the people of Swords enjoy this new infrastructure.’

Funded by the National Transport Authority and delivered on behalf of Fingal County Council,  contractor GMC and deign form Roughan O’Donovan delivered the project under a joint works contract. The new cycle lanes are now open to all.

To learn more about this and other Active Travel projects visit www.fingal.ie/activetravel