3.2K 
Access To Be Closed
You shall not pass. For six months.
he Chapel Road access to Applewood Heights is set for a six-month trial closure.
The temporary closure is part of a traffic calming measure by Wicklow County Council.
Applewood Heights 1989
13 comments
Up to recently myself and neighbour Hiobhan Shanley used to be able to have a chat on Chapel Road.
Now you take your life in your hands with the volume and speed of cars passing by.
What about the residents on Chapel Road who not only have the recent traffic explosion due to new estate sea green to content with. I dont recall being asked my option.
There has been a very noticeable increase in traffic on Kindlestown Road lower since the top of Applewood was blocked off. The ongoing increase in traffic volumes through the last decade or so had already made it increasingly difficult for residents to get in and out of their driveways safely, an issue which is further compounded by people speeding and overtaking cars waiting to turn. But the sudden and significant increase in traffic since the recent road closure had made a bad situation far more dangerous. Provisions need to be made to provide safe conditions for ALL residents in the immediate area and not just those living adjacent to the main road in Applewood Heights and I hope all affected residents will be consulted before any permanent changes are made.
Well the road is closed and the estate feels like an estate for the first time ever. The 50km/h cars racing through the estate, the construction traffic, tractors, tradesmens’ vans, well they’re all gone back out to main roads where they belong.
Driving down Chapel Road and out onto the road that way to get to the bottom of Applewood takes 2 minutes extra. A minor inconvenience for drivers, but a massive improvement in safety for kids etc and a huge improvement in terms of noise for those living anywhere near the road.
The road should have been closed decades ago, and despite many residents’ concerns, the lack of alternatives kept the road open and it has been abused by those racing through with no regard for residents. Now, with road improvements in the immediate area it meant the road closure was possible.
I see many self interested complaints online and on messaging apps. Please keep in mind that safety and enjoyment of peoples’ home is more important in the community than drivers saving 2 minutes by racing through our estate. No estate should be a rat run. Traffic belongs on main roads. Common sense has prevailed.
Walking or cycling through the estate are still possible! Just not driving at 50km/h. Leave the car at home if possible and let’s not prioritise car traffic anymore – especially in estates.
Martin if you check your emails you’ll see there were updated survey results sent. 60% are in favour of a trial road closure. Also I see 171 Applewood is no where near the road in question is it? If the traffic was going past your house, you’d be up in arms.
From Martin Foley, via our Zenfolio pic site. Bizarrely.
Hi,
I recently received a message from the AH residents assoc stating that the entrance from Chapel Road would be closed for 6 months. This goes against the findings in a recent poll as follows:
Total Road Closure: 55%
Alt. Trial Measure : 68%
What is the point of a survey if not abiding by the findings?
Martin Foley
No. 171
Brilliant news for residents. I always thought it was strange to have traffic running through an estate. I’m sure people will get used to it.
Yes – let’s take the speed humps out of a residential area so that cars can drive through an estate even faster than they do now. Great idea. The entire reason for the closure is because vehicles are already driving through there too fast. If they had driven respectfully, there never would have been an issue. The volume and type of traffic going through Applewood belongs on a main road and not in an estate. It is madness that it has been allowed for so long. Residents have tried to get something done about this for decades. Finally, with the Lidl link road open, it can be done. And yes – people might actually try to walk a lot more now.
Think ‘Stirling Moss’ was taking the Michael D. Here’s hoping the closure takes away the speed racers and, yep, gets people walking more…
Closing the top entrance is worth a try. This will put some additional pressure on Blacklion I presume (with cars that would have cut thru Applewood now having to go around that way) PLUS Applewood residents who might have just driven in from the top entrance now also having to go around. It just “might” encourage some people to walk!!
It’s a pity people cannot just be reasonable and drive slowly – it would solve so many problems ! There would be no need for speed bumps for starters.
I think it would be better if they took the traffic calming humps out of the road so cars could get through Applewood H faster..
I agree with closure
I agree with closure
I ag