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Ireland’s first purpose-built Park and Share Facility on the Motorway Network has been opened on the south side of Dundalk. The facility will prove especially useful for those living in South Armagh who would like to car share on longer journeys. The new facility is located off junction 16 (formally the N52 Junction) on the M1.
The 226 Parking Bay Facility represents an investment in the order of €1 million, and will significantly improve safety at the junctions off the M1 Motorway , in particular the N33, N53 and R215 where there is an existing safety issue of parking in the verge.
The project incorporates:
- 226 Parking Bays (incl. 22 Disabled parking bays)
- Wired for Electric Vehicles (EV) – all parking bays have been prepared for electric vehicle provision
- Flood Lighting
- CCTV Cameras
- A turnaround area to facilitate pick up and drop offs
- Pedestrian footpaths
- Safe access off the R215,
- Closing of existing hard-shoulders on the N33, N53 and R215 to prevent future on-road parking
- VMS Signage directing drivers to the Park and Share
The Park and Share Facility was initiated and funded by TII. The site was originally identified through the TII Road Safety Inspection process, which found that there was dangerous parking taking place in the verge and hardshoulders of the National Routes adjacent to the M1.
The scheme was progressed by Louth County Council as well as technical advisors for the scheme, Bruton Consulting Engineers and PMCE. Construction works were undertaken by ACS Civils Ltd.
The opening of the scheme means that vehicles currently parking adjacent to high-speed national roads will now be able to park safely in a purpose-built parking facility. The facility will have the added benefit of also incentivising more vehicle sharing and access to private bus operators, which in turn will reduce the environmental impact of commuting in individual cars.
