The N63 Cathedral Junction Improvement project involved the upgrade of the junction adjacent to St Mel’s Cathedral at the N63 Junction between the Dublin Road and New Street in Longford Town. It was proposed to alter the junction layout at the junction of Major’s Well Road, Dublin Street, New Street and Dublin Road to regulate traffic flows while improving the movement of pedestrians and cyclists through the area. The objective of the scheme was to provide a significantly safer and enhanced environment for all users by way of improved road crossing points.
CH2M Barry built two traffic models in order to predict traffic conditions following the signalisation of Cathedral junction. Initially, a LINSIG model was built to assess the operation of Cathedral junction in a signalised form. This model gave an overview of predicted traffic conditions throughout the network and provided sets of optimised timings for each of the junctions.
Following the modelling a preferred junction upgrade was agreed and designed and a detailed set of contract documents were prepared. Construction works commenced during the school summer holidays in 2016 and were substantially completed in September 2016.
The new traffic signals were switched on and the upgraded junction was fully opened to traffic in October 2016 and has contributed to improved safety for vulnerable road users and improved traffic flow through Longford town centre.