A NEW lamp adorning a road junction in the country's largest urban park cost the taxpayer €57,000, it has emerged.

The spectacular new lighting system in Phoenix Park was part of a €233,000 project to put in a roundabout at a traffic accident blackspot.

The Mountjoy Cross junction near the Castleknock gate of the park had been the scene of dozens of car crashes over several years, according to local gardaí.

A statement from the Office of Public Works (OPW) said: "The construction works carried out late last year included a permanent roundabout at the Mountjoy Cross junction replacing the temporary roundabout, which was installed in 2007.

"This junction had, for several years, one of the highest accident rates in the Blanchardstown garda division and the introduction of the temporary roundabout was an immediate success by reducing the number of accidents considerably.

"The permanent structure was needed to further improve the safety of all users at the Mountjoy Cross including pedestrians, cyclists, runners as well as motorists."

The OPW said part of the job had also involved flood-proofing the area, as flooding had been a major problem in the past. At one stage, the junction had to be closed for four days, causing massive traffic congestion in the area.

"Major remedial works have been carried out on the drainage system at Mountjoy Cross as part of this construction contract and these have proven successful," the OPW said.

In all, the remedial works cost €233,000, excluding Vat, more than €176,000 was spent on the actual construction of the roundabout.

Another €38,000 was spent on an ESB connection to bring power for the €19,000 new lamp standard that has been installed.

The gates of Phoenix Park were closed for several months late last year to facilitate the construction project, causing traffic headaches for commuters. Some motorists complained that the work should have been carried out in the summer months but funding became available only in the later part of the year. The OPW said the closure had to take place, particularly to replace damaged gas pipes that run alongside the road.