Business call for postponement of M6 road closure

Local businesses have called on Roscommon County Council to postpone the closure of the M6 westbound carriageway from the Monksland exit to Ballinasloe East until January amid fears that the closure in the run-up to Christmas could be detrimental to businesses. The Left Bank Traders Association said this week that businesses would like to see the works postponed until the New Year. The association first sent a letter to Roscommon County Council on Friday, November 18, during the formal public consultation period, to ask that the work, which is scheduled to begin on Monday next, December 5, be put back until after the Christmas period. The letter to the council stated: "We would point out that the proposal to close the road comes at one of the busiest times of the year, i.e. the three-week period immediately preceding Christmas. To suggest that this very significant portion of the M6 be closed over this period is unacceptable given the potential for traffic mayhem and serious disruption and inconvenience to users of the road and to local residents. Closing the road at this time will also have a serious negative impact on businesses in Athlone, making it more difficult for shoppers to visit the area and access commercial premises." In response the council said that the reason for the closure of the road was to rectify a drainage problem with the pavement and pointed out that the works involve reshaping approximately 150m of the carriageway and providing some drainage. The letter from the council stated: "Siac Wills JV is project supervisor for the construction stage of the M6 (as defined in Health & Safety Legislation). They consider the safest way to carry out the work is to close the westbound carriageway and divert traffic onto the R446 (Old N6). They estimate it will take approximately six days to complete the works. Once the works are completed the carriageway will re-open." Two days later the Left Bank Traders Association wrote again to the council, pointing out that the works were not urgent and suggested again that they be postponed until January or February. Politicians, too, have criticised the decision to close this section of the road before Christmas. Fianna Fáil Cllr Aengus O'Rourke, who runs a business in Pearse Street, said he was outraged by the decision. "This is a hare-brained plan, how can a local authority with any sense of reality come to a decision to choke a town with traffic for the busiest three weeks of the year? The stretch in question is in Roscommon and is therefore the responsibility of Roscommon County Council. "However, their plan to close this road and divert traffic along the old N6 will impact Athlone town and indeed Monksland in a detrimental way. Commuters, shoppers and visitors will avoid the midlands during this period as gridlock sets in for the three weeks. Given that public notices have been published in the newspapers effectively the word is already now out there to avoid Athlone at all costs during December." Cllr O'Rourke added: "I am astonished and to be quite honest shocked that a local authority would display such disregard for the people and for businesses. Businesses have literally been holding their breath for the past number of quiet months waiting for the busy Christmas period to a commence only now to have that taken from them. I am calling on Roscommon County Council to immediately announce that this plan is being postponed until the New Year. This announcement needs to happen publicly and comprehensively as already word is getting around that Athlone will be a no-go-zone this December." Fine Gael TD for Longford/Westmeath Deputy Nicky McFadden said the plan to close part of the M6 was ridiculous. "The proposed road closure is planned between December 5 and December 23 to facilitate roadworks. While improvement of roads is of course positive, the timing of this closure could not be worse. Closing the road would be a ridiculous measure and local businesses will suffer as a result. If motorists cannot get to Athlone and surrounding areas they will inevitably choose to shop in Galway instead. Businesses are depending on the busy Christmas season to generate revenue and if this drops many will not be able to pay their commercial rates," Deputy McFadden said. "Road closures would also inhibit access to Portiuncula Hospital, in particular for ambulances. The National Roads Authority needs to take this into account. Cllr Gabrielle McFadden brought this problem to my attention in the first place. As a result, I raised concerns with Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar, who has written to the CEO of the National Roads Authority requesting that the roadworks be deferred to January. We should be doing as much as we can to attract business at this busy time of year."