Council makes final decision on Athlone one-way plan

Westmeath County Council has agreed to push on with proposals for a €3m enhancement of Athlone's Church Street which involves a controversial one-way traffic proposal

The one-way system is required, the council says, to facilitate the revamp of the town's main thoroughfare.

At a meeting of the council today (Monday), the councillors adopted a report by the chief executive Pat Gallagher on submissions made as part of the public consultation process on the controversial plans.

In total there were some 43 submissions from members of the public on the plans.

After lengthy discussion, the councillors agreed to adopt the CEO's report, on a proposer and seconder, as there was no counter proposal. It means the plans will now proceed.

There were a number of minor recommendations issued by the CEO, incuding that a Project Liaison Officer be appointed by the council to ensure that effective communication and dialogue is available at all times with the Councillors, Oireachtas Members, traders, residents, the media, the wider public and other stakeholders.

Prior to the commencement of the one-way system on Church Street, arrangements are also to be put in place to allow a funeral cortege to exit The Strand via Wolf Tone Terrace and Burgess Park.

All traffic signals are to be upgraded to intelligent vehicular activated systems on all approaches to the town centre, as resources permit.

Two disabled car parking spaces and a loading / taxi rank are to be provided adjacent to St Mary’s Church.

The proposal to colour code the main circulatory route within the town as the ‘Orange Loop’ shall be reconsidered with reference to the heritage of Athlone.

Warning and information signage is to be erected to advise the public of construction work in advance of the commencement of these enhancement works.

In addition, billboards outlining the scope, design, timescale and purpose of the works are also to be erected at appropriate locations to inform the public of the scheme.

An additional traffic lane is also to be constructed for the length of the slip road from Station Road to its junction with the Rail Link Road, until such time as the Rail Link Road has been completed in its entirety.