'Significant issues with aquaplaning' on section of M6 raised at council meeting

A meeting of Athlone Municipal District members of Roscommon County Council has heard about “significant issues with aquaplaning” on a section of the M6 motorway, which is posing dangerous driving conditions for motorists.

The issue was raised by local Fine Gael Cllr, John Naughten, at the May monthly meeting last week, who received unanimous support from his colleagues in calling for a review to be undertaken of the number of accidents on the M6 motorway in the short stretch between Kilbegley overbridge and Junction 14.

While he was unable to provide detailed information to the meeting about the number of accidents which have occurred at the particular location, Cllr Naughten said that, from speaking with local people in the area and “analysing the data” relating to accidents and “near misses” he is aware of a “significant number of incidents” on the road in question.

“There seems to be a significant amount of water holding on this stretch of road at Junction 14 in both the east and westbound direction when we get heavy rain,” said the Fine Gael Cllr “so either the drainage system is not adequate or there is not enough gradient, but either way it needs to be investigated as it is posing a serious hazard for motorists using this road.”

The meeting agreed that an urgent letter should issue to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) from Roscommon County Council requesting them to undertake a review of the number of accidents over the last three years on the M6 motorway between the Kilbegly overbridge and Junction 14.

Cllr Naughen reminded his council colleagues and members of the executive that there seems to be “significant issues with aquaplaning” on this stretch of road during heavy rainfall and said it was “of critical urgency” that the issue should be addressed in an effort to avoid a fatality.