Huge setback as €80m N61 plan is deferred

In what's been described a major setback for the future development of South Roscommon, plans for a new 14-kilometre stretch of the N61 between Athlone and Roscommon town have been taken off the table for the foreseeable future by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

The €80m development, known as the 'N61 Ballymurray to Knockcroghery' project, had been going through pre-planning stages for the last five years.

There was speculation recently that it could be deferred until after 2030 and, in an update on the project this week, Roscommon County Council Director of Services Shane Tiernan confirmed this "disappointing" news.

He said the N61 project was considered a major scheme under the TII's guidelines, and last year it said it would only proceed with major road projects that were specifically listed in the Government's National Development Plan.

Mr Tiernan explained that the revised National Development Plan, published last October, did not mention the South Roscommon project.

He said Roscommon County Council had made a formal request to TII, towards the end of last year, to proceed with the design and environmental evaluation stages of the project.

"TII responded by advising us that unfortunately they're not in a position to give approval for this major scheme to proceed to design and environmental evaluation at this time," he said.

The council official went on to say that, on the basis of TII's listed priorities, "it's not considered likely that any funding under the (major roads) programme will be allocated to the N61 project prior to 2026, and indeed most likely 2030."

The preferred route corridor for the project diverted from the current N61 before the railway gates at Ballymurray, bypassed the village of Knockcroghery, and continued to Nolan’s Cross, beyond Lecarrow village.

Cllr Tony Ward said "a lot of money" had been spent on the project to date and its deferral was "very bad news."

He said safety issues on the N61 had been a problem for years and had not been addressed. "A number of years ago I spoke about a brand new road from Athlone and I think that's what they should look at, a brand new road," he said.

Cllr Donal Kilduff said it was "a horrendous decision" by the TII not to move forward with the project.

"Just because we're pursuing a low-carbon future, and a green future, it doesn't mean we should be ignoring the fact that we have unsafe carriages and unsafe roads out there.

"These roads are not going to become obsolete. Cars are still going to use them, though they might be electric cars rather than petrol or diesel cars," said Cllr Kilduff, who called for a letter to be sent to the TII urging it to reconsider its decision.

Cllr Emer Kelly added that safety issues on the road were coming up "time and time again, and we don't appear to be getting the support of TII on anything to do with (the N61)."