Periodic closure of Clonown Road for rest of year

The Clonown Road in Athlone could be unavailable for periods for the remainder of the year, it has been announced.

Westmeath County Council this week published a notice indicating that it intends to close the L8009 & L8010 Clonown road, Athlone, periodically from now until December 31.

It said the closure is to facilitate the construction of flood defences.

A drawing provided by the council indicates that the closure covers an area from close to the entrance to the Shamrock Lodge Hotel to the turn to Duogue.

This will prevent residents in Clonown from travelling between Athlone and their homes via the Clonown Road.

Instead, it appears Clonown residents will need to travel via the old Galway Road into Athlone - which involves a significant extra journey, particularly for those living between Athlone and Clonown.

It is not clear how often during the ten month period the closure will occur, or for what duration.

The council said there is alternative access via the L80073 Springwell Road, L8007 St. Anne’s Terrace, L8008 Canal Banks, L8011 Deerpark Road and vice versa.

This, however, seems to relate to access between the Duogue and Newtowncarberry areas and Clonown rather than access between Athlone town and Clonown.

The closure notice is also published on Roscommon County Council's website, which includes a map which is included here with this story.