Athlone's bypass officially opened 35 years ago today

June 24 thirty-five years ago was a landmark day in the modern history of Athlone as the town's new bypass was officially opened by then-Taoiseach Charlie Haughey.

The development, officially known as the Athlone Relief Road, included a new dual carriageway traffic bridge over the Shannon, which joined the town bridge and the railway bridge to become the third river crossing in the town.

After being developed at a cost of more than £37 million, the relief road opened to traffic in March 1991, permanently ending the need for all traffic between Dublin and Galway to pass through the centre of Athlone town.

The relief road's official opening on June 24, 1991, was described in that week's Westmeath Independent as heralding "the dawn of an era" in Athlone.

Speaking at the road's opening, Charlie Haughey said: "I want to name this new gateway 'Shannon Way' and to wish success to all those who will travel over it in the years ahead."

The official opening took place on the dual carriageway bridge, which was facilitated by a two-hour closure of the new route, and was attended by a crowd estimated at up to 1,000 people.

Stressing that it would be a gateway to the West, Mr Haughey said the new road would open up great possibilities for the economic and business life of the Midlands.

"It eliminates this blockage, this impediment, and will contribute to lower transport costs," he said.

"It will have great benefits for tourism also. Visitors will be able to loiter around Athlone and savour the pleasures of the town, and tourist traffic to the West will be greatly expedited."

The road's official opening came just before the town's big Tercentenary celebrations, marking 300 years since the Siege of Athlone, and during his visit the Taoiseach delivered a surprise funding boost to that event.

At a press conference in Custume Barracks, Mr Haughey announced he was making "a special National Lottery allocation" of £100,000 to help with the costs of the Athlone Tercentenary celebrations.

"The people of Athlone are making a tremendous effort for this Tercentenary, and they are a bit strapped for cash, so, under considerable Midland pressure, Flynn (then-Environment Minister Padraig Flynn) has opened up the purse strings. It couldn't be going to a better town," the Taoiseach said.