Raithín used as ‘rat run’, as residents seek traffic calming

Concerns were raised at the February meeting of the Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District that Raithín estate in Mullingar is increasingly being used as a “rat run”, and councillors are warning that speeding traffic is posing a danger to children and residents.

Cllr Andrew Duncan called on the district to install speed ramps in estate, saying the issue had been raised repeatedly over a number of years.

“This is maybe the eighth time I’ve brought this up, and I know it’s probably been brought up 15 times in this chamber,” he said. “Can we get them in this year, please? It would be great.”

Cllr Mick Dollard said the main difficulty was traffic cutting through the estate to avoid congestion on the Ashe Road.

“The biggest problem now in Raithín is that people are using it as a rat run,” he said. “They’re coming in from the Ashe Road, going through Raithín Eoghan, through Raithín, and exiting to the C-Link beside the ETNS school. That’s where the problem is.”

Cllr Dollard said longer-term plans to introduce cul-de-sacs had been broadly welcomed but warned that interim traffic calming measures were urgently needed.

“That may happen in four or 10 years’ time, but we need traffic calming now between Raithín Eoghan and the ETNS,” he said.

Supporting the motion, Cllr Ken Glynn said physical ramps were the most effective form of traffic calming.

“There was talk before of build-outs, but the best form of traffic calming is ramps,” he said. “The Ardmore Road proves it. That’s just the reality.”

Cllr Duncan said additional ramps were sometimes unpopular but were the only measure that consistently reduced speeding.

“People complain about ramps, but ramps are the only thing that actually slow traffic,” he said. “You hit a ramp, you slow.”

Cllr Dollard also highlighted concerns about driver behaviour in residential estates.

“Some people have no respect now for road users, especially kids in estates,” he said. “When the weather improves, kids will be out playing football or hurling, and cars just fly in and fly out.”

In response, the district office said the installation of speed ramps in Raithín Estate will be considered as part of the 2026 works programme.