Safety report on N61 in Athlone delayed by more than 18 months

A consultant has not yet been appointed to examine road safety concerns on the N61 Roscommon Road in Athlone, despite local councillors being told that the appointment was "in progress" as far back as January of 2019.

Cllr Tony Ward, who has long raised concerns about the safety of the N61 between the Ganly's roundabout and St Brigid's GAA Club, was informed at a council meeting early last year that the appointment of a consultant was imminent.

"Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) have approved the appointment of consultants to examine safety issues relating to the N61 from Ganly's roundabout to the turn for the L7554 St Brigid's GAA Centre Road. The appointment is in progress," Cllr Ward was told in a written response at a January 2019 meeting of the Athlone Municipal District in Roscommon.

However, eighteen months on, the consultant has still not been appointed to examine the busy thoroughfare.

At last month's meeting of Roscommon County Council's Athlone Municipal District, Cllr Ward asked for an update and he was told the delay had been caused by a variety of issues.

"A number of issues have combined to affect progress regarding this matter," said the local authority. "These include the retirement of our senior engineer, the appointment of a new TII safety officer for Roscommon, and the Covid-19 pandemic."

The council added that its roads engineer Ivor Kilcline would raise the issue at a meeting with the new TII safety officer for Roscommon.

Cllr Ward said he was "very disappointed" with the length of the delay in appointing a contractor, saying it was an issue that had been dragging on for years at this stage.

"I've been raising this non-stop over the years. There's a major safety issue with most of the junctions along that (N61) route, from Ganly's on out, and there is still nothing being done about it. I'm going to keep raising it," he said.

He pointed out that, as part of the work required on the road, there was a need for a right-turn lane, road markings, signage and public lighting to be installed at the turn off the N61 onto the L7554 St Brigid's GAA Centre Road at Carraghmurragh-Purts, Kiltoom.

"No land needs to be acquired at that location (to improve the junction) and it's a major issue because there are over 100 families living off that road alone," he said.