Final Ballykeeran viewpoint layout now in place
By Rebekah O'Reilly
Westmeath County Council has confirmed that the new entrance arrangement at the Ballykeeran viewing point is the final design, following concerns raised by local residents about road safety and access at the popular amenity.
District Engineer Willie Ryan said the design had been audited for compliance with the relevant standards and had been found to meet those requirements.
Responding to concerns about the changes, Mr Ryan confirmed that the modified access road would serve as both the entrance and exit to the viewing point.
“This is indeed the final layout of the new entrance arrangement,” he said.
“The design has been audited for compliance with the relevant standards and has been found to meet those standards. In addition, a single access arrangement is generally preferred from a road safety perspective as it reduces potential driver confusion.”
The confirmation follows concerns from Ballykeeran residents about the impact of the alterations, with questions raised about the new access arrangement, traffic movements and the safety of children travelling to and from school.
As previously reported in this paper, residents had expressed concerns that the changes could create difficulties for motorists entering and leaving the viewing point on the N55, particularly given the volume of traffic using the road.
Local TD Kevin 'Boxer' Moran acknowledged the concerns of residents, saying: "A lot of accidents took place there, some minor tips, and some more serious ones in recent years.
"What Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) want to do is (ensure) that vehicles can see one another, and that one is not turning out on top of another as happened in the past."
He added that an island in the centre of the viewing point has since been removed to enable easier access for CIE and tourism buses.
"The island in the middle was interfering with access for buses. It's not just the CIE buses. Some tourist buses pull in there, to look at the viewing point, so that's now going to be made a lot easier for everybody.
"The big lorries and articulated trucks that were pulling in there, on and off, won't be able to go in there now, but it's not designed for big lorries to go in there anyway, and it never was."
The works were undertaken as part of a safety improvement programme funded by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).
Mr Ryan said Westmeath County Council had received significant funding from TII to carry out improvements at the site, including the construction of a new wall south of the amenity to improve visibility, as well as modifications to the entrance.
The entrance modifications form part of a wider programme of works at the viewing point, which is a popular stop for motorists travelling along the N55.
Looking ahead, the council is also seeking further funding to enhance the amenity.
“We are seeking Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme funding in 2027 for further enhancements within the amenity,” Mr Ryan said.