Funding still needed for Garrycastle bridge plan

Plans for realignment works at Garrycastle Bridge were formally approved by Westmeath County Council on Monday, however there is still no guarantee of funding from the Department of Transport next year for work to begin. A total of €400,000 was allocated to the proposed road out of this year's roads budget and the design has been completed. The council now has to apply to the Department for funding next year. "There's no commitment from the Department in relation to funding," Michael Connelly, Director of Services, told the council at Monday's meeting, which means there is no timescale for the project until funding is secured for construction. However he said that the general indication was that the Department was in favour of the much-needed work. The long-awaited widening of the bridge was delayed this year, when it was discovered that the new bridge design was not high enough for Iarnrod Eireann requirements. The design had to be re-submitted and a new Part 8 process (which is the formal process for a project proposed by a local authority) was carried out. Public submissions are sought on the plans and councillors must then approve the project, which they proceeded to do on Monday. The realigned road is located east of the existing route R916 and includes a new bridge over the Athlone to Mullingar railway line. The two-lane carriageway of 700m starts 300m north of the Old Dublin Road junction and goes as far as a location 150m south of the N6 west-bound on/off ramp and includes the construction of two roundabouts. There will also be cycleways and footpaths on the route. County Manager Danny McLoughlin wrote in his report that the development was needed as noted in the County Development Plan 2008 and the National Development Plan 2007-2013. "The main issues revolve around conservation policy and visual impact, impact on residential properties adjoining the scheme and safety of road users. It is considered that the development will essentially improve traffic safety on otherwise substandard infrastructure," he wrote.