Upgraded N55 could cost €89 million

The proposed upgrade of the N55 from Athlone to Ballymahon could cost an estimated €89 million, a new report has revealed.

The Preferred Route Corridor for the new N55 was announced on Wednesday last, and it includes two modifications between Glasson and Tubberclair and between The Pigeons and Tang.

In June of 2019, an Emerging Preferred Route Corridor was published for the realignment of 17 km of the busy route which bypassed Ballykeeran, Tubberclair, Glasson, and Tang, and incorporated portions of the existing route, before joining up with the N55 just south of Ballymahon.

The first change in the new Option Selection Report published last week comes east of Glasson where the preferred route now joins the existing N55. This continues for 900 metres between Glasson and Tubberclair before deviating offline and passing east of Tubberclair before rejoining the EPRC north of Tubberclair at the N55/L5464 crossroads.

The second modification deviates from the 2019 route at The Pigeons, where it runs further east for approximately 2km before rejoining the route south of Tang.

The Emerging Preferred Route Corridor was a combination of the so-called Magenta and Yellow routes earlier in the process. The changes to that come following the last round of public consultation where a number of modifications were proposed and then appraised to ensure the optimum Preferred Route Corridor.

The preferred corridor is deemed to be 'preferred' under the headings of safety, economy and environment in the Option Selection Report.

The first modification will have “a lesser overall agricultural impact” than the 2019 route, it stated, while the second change has potential for “significant adverse effects on 15 properties compared with 20 for the EPRC (2019) route”.

“The new scheme will significantly enhance road safety on this section of the N55,” the report concluded.

Some 250 letters have been sent out this week to landowners who could potentially be affected, but the extent of that would not be fully known until there is a detailed design of the route. A small number of properties may need to be acquired for the new road.

Donal O'Donoghue, Executive Engineer, Westmeath National Roads Office, said any upgrade would improve road safety for all road users, not just motorists, but also walkers and cyclists.

He said there is a “poor safety record” on the busy road which has a very narrow verge and no facilities for pedestrians or cyclists.

Mr O'Donoghue stressed that the project team will work closely with all affected landowners to minimise any potential disruption and that the project team is available during working hours to discuss any specific concerns. They will also work on a case by case basis with anyone putting in a planning application in the area.

Despite the safety concerns that the road is substandard for the level of traffic, particularly HGVs, it carries daily, it is expected to be many years before the road is developed.

The next phase to proceed, subject to Transport Infrastructure ireland approvals and government funding, would be phase three involving the detailed design of the scheme which would involve engineering surveys, preparation of an environmental assessment, identifying the exact land required and junction design.

Cllr Tom Farrell welcomed the publication of the Preferred Route Corridor, which he said at least provides some certainty to local people, and frees up land for planning previously tied up in the other routes being considered.

“The timeframe in my opinion will be a long time. What I gather, and I have asked the question on this, is that it is ten years minimum,” he added.

The public can view the report at www.wccprojectoffice.ie and anyone with any queries should contact the N55 project team by email: info@wccprojectoffice.ie or by calling 044-9334250 during office hours.