Glenamuck District Roads Scheme Officially Opens

This week, Cllr Jim Gildea, Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, officially opened the Glenamuck District Roads Scheme (GDRS), a major strategic infrastructure project delivered by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. The scheme represents a significant investment in the transport network for the Kiltiernan–Glenamuck area and will improve connectivity, support sustainable travel, and enhance accessibility for residents and businesses.

The Glenamuck District Roads Scheme is a key enabling project for the area, facilitating the planned delivery of approximately 2,600 to 3,000 new homes, alongside associated community infrastructure. By improving traffic flow, creating safer routes for pedestrians and cyclists, and supporting future public transport provision, the scheme will play a central role in shaping a more connected, sustainable, and liveable community.

Key Aspects of the GDRS and its Importance:

• Traffic Management & Safety: A primary function of the project is to divert traffic away from the existing Kiltiernan village core, easing congestion on the Enniskerry Road and improving road safety for all users.
• Multi-Modal Infrastructure: The scheme improves local infrastructure by adding approximately 890m of four-lane dual carriageway and 660m of two-lane road within the Glenamuck District Distributor Road, along with 1800m of the new Glenamuck Link Distributor Road. This includes approx. 8km of segregated cycle tracks and footpaths.
• Enabling Development: The project is a vital enabler for the residential development outlined in the Kiltiernan-Glenamuck Local Area Plan.
• Sustainability: The design incorporates sustainable transport options, including enhanced, safe walking and cycling facilities and, according to the EIAR, aligns with the Design Manual for Urban Roads & Streets (DMURS) for better, safer street design.
• Surface Water Management: The scheme includes significant investment in surface water infrastructure, including large attenuation ponds.

The project is crucial for transforming the area from a primarily rural character into a sustainable, connected, and functional urban area with upgraded public lighting and new junctions.

Speaking at the launch, An Cathaoirleach, Councillor Jim Gildea, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council said: 
​“The new road that you see before you here today is the culmination of years of hard work and effort by a large number of people, who have brought this scheme from the original idea through all the legal and planning issues to a fully completed project that we can all be proud of.

This road improvement scheme represents a strategic investment by Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council in the capacity, safety, and inclusivity of the local road network. The works delivered here will significantly improve road safety on the existing Glenamuck and Enniskerry Roads while enhancing movement and connectivity across the wider area.

The new roads will operate as key distributor routes to the M50, supporting economic activity and planned growth in line with the objectives of the County Development Plan. Importantly, this scheme also supports the continued development of Kilternan Village as a safer, more pedestrian-friendly place, reducing through traffic and improving the local environment for residents and businesses.”

  
Frank Curran,  Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council added: 
​This project represents a significant and carefully planned investment in local transport infrastructure, delivered to meet both current needs and long-term demand. The scheme reflects the Council’s continued commitment to improving road safety, traffic efficiency, active travel connectivity, and overall network resilience for the benefit of the wider community.

The construction phase involved careful sequencing of works, adherence to strict safety and quality controls, and ongoing engagement between site teams and Council engineers. The successful delivery of the scheme demonstrates best practice in contract management, risk management, and compliance with statutory and technical standards, ensuring the infrastructure performs as intended from day one.

Today marks an important milestone with the completion of the GDRS road scheme, which stands as an example of what can be achieved through strong teamwork, sound engineering judgment, and a clear focus on long-term public value. I would like to sincerely thank the project team for their professionalism and dedication, and the local community for their patience and cooperation during the works.

On behalf of the elected members, I wish the community every success in benefiting from this important piece of infrastructure. We are confident that the GDRS road scheme will deliver lasting operational, safety, and economic benefits for many years to come.”

Image 1: Cllr Jacqueline Burke, Cllr Lettie McCarthy, Cllr Tom Kivlehan, Frank Curran – Chief Executive, Cllr Jim Gildea - Cathaoirleach, Cllr Tom Murphy, Cllr Fiona Murray and Shay Brennan – T.D.

Image 2: Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council staff and construction staff.

Image 3: Frank Curran – Chief Executive with Cllr Jim Gildea – Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.