Road safety works nearing completion at popular Athlone viewing point

Road safety works which are due to create improved sightlines for motorists visiting the popular Ballykeeran viewing point outside Athlone are understood to be at "an advanced stage".

The viewing point on the N55, overlooking Lough Ree, is a popular amenity in the area but has also been the site of road safety concerns among motorists.

Work began this summer on a €160,000 programme of improvements, after funding was allocated by Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

The July meeting of the Athlone Moate Municipal District heard that the project includes "junction enhancements, revised kerbing, signage modifications, the construction of a new boundary wall to the south of the viewing area, and associated measures to improve visibility and safety at the access onto the N55".

The local authority added that the work would "significantly improve sightlines and enhance safety for vehicles entering and exiting the viewing area".

Local Minister of State Kevin 'Boxer' Moran welcomed the improvements, saying he and other local representatives had been calling for them for a number of years.

"This is something that's been planned for years but we never got the funding for it until now," 'Boxer' told the Westmeath Independent.

"It's going to make the place a lot safer. In fairness to the local councillors it's not just me that's been pushing for this, we all have, and I give credit to them.

"I've met with the residents of Glasson and Ballykeeran on this and they've been hugely concerned because the Ballykeeran viewing point is so well-used.

"It's so busy up there that it was an accident waiting to happen, and there were a number of near-misses along that stretch of road."

'Boxer' said it was his understanding that the improvement works are currently well-advanced and are likely to be completed in the coming weeks.

At the July meeting of the Athlone Moate Municipal District, Cllr Frankie Keena described the poor visibility for motorists at the Ballykeeran viewing point as "a serious health and safety concern", while Cllr John Gibbons said: "It's a much-used area for people to pull in, and to exit it is pretty scary at any time. I welcome these works."