Controversial motorway closure plans deferred at last minute

Roscommon County Council has said that wintry weather caused the last-minute postponement of contentious roadworks that would have closed the westbound carriageway on the M6 motorway between Athlone and Ballinasloe in the lead-up to Christmas. The M6 closure was scheduled to begin on Monday and continue for a minimum of six days. However, last Friday it emerged that the council and National Roads Authority (NRA) had agreed to defer the project until the spring. The work is designed to improve drainage on the motorway's surface. Speaking to the Westmeath Independent, Council Director of Services Majella Hunt said the project was always going to be weather dependent. "In the lead up to the expected start date, the weather was poor," Ms Hunt told the Westmeath Independent. "Because of the rain and frost we've been having, and because it doesn't seem likely that these conditions will change, it was decided that we would postpone the work." Ms Hunt said the council would decide on a new start date in January, but that the project would not, now, begin until early spring. The local authority had advertised a closure notice period of Monday December 5 to Friday December 23 for the route. Despite this notice period of almost three weeks, the council said that if weather conditions were favourable the work would take no longer than six days to complete. The postponement of the project was welcomed by Athlone councillor Kevin 'Boxer' Moran. "I think this is wonderful news for traders throughout Athlone because the closure would have had a huge impact, particularly in the lead up to Christmas," he said. "This work still needs to be done but the money to do it has not been lost and it will now take place in the spring." Cllr Moran said there had been "a lot of confusion" around the proposed road closure and the traffic management plan that would have to be implemented as a result. Cllr Aengus O'Rourke also welcomed the postponement. He said that Athlone businesses and commuters were "breathing a huge sigh of relief," as the closure "would have been absolutely devastating for the town." Business interests in Athlone had strongly criticised the timing of the closure plan in the run up to the busy Christmas shopping period. And there were concerns that Athlone's westside retail trade, particularly in the Monksland area, would be detrimentally affected by the closure.