News of 'imminent' N61 safety report welcomed

News that the chief executive of Roscommon County Council is meeting Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) representatives to discuss a long-awaited safety review of the N61 was welcomed at an Athlone Municipal District meeting last week.

Roughan & O’Donovan Consulting Engineers had been appointed by TII to examine safety issues on a section from Ganly’s Roundabout outside Athlone to the turn off for the L75540 for the St Brigid’s GAA Centre and into the villages of Carrowmurragh-Purts and Moyvannion.

MD Co-ordinator Susan Loughnane informed councillors at last week’s Municipal District meeting that the chief executive Shane Tiernan was meeting with TII representatives about the report, and councillors would be then updated. The news followed a long discussion among members where much frustration was expressed at the delay in the publication of the report, Cllr Donal Kilduff said that when he got elected in 2019, the N61, the primary road in the Athlone Municipal District, was his number one priority. He said that a suite of measures was being proposed as part of the review, which included an Active Travel Scheme in the area of Ballybay National School. “I am excited that the report’s publication is imminent. A commitment was given by the TII that a number of safety schemes would be carried out along the N61,” he said.

During the discussion, Cllr Kilduff spoke of his growing frustration with the TII, representatives of which eventually met with councillors to discuss safety concerns a number of years ago.

Cllr Kilduff explained that following that meeting, it was agreed that a strategic review of the road would be carried but there was much frustration at the delay in councillors receiving the report.

Cllr John Naughten shared Cllr Kilduff’s frustration and thought the report would be with the members in May. “There are significant safety concerns. There is an unacceptable delay, and this report needs to be published as soon as possible,” he said.

Cllr Naughton said the TII was committed to carrying out a survey on the road, which included analysing the different junctions, and the ongoing safety issues, especially with the thousands of vehicles driving between Roscommon Town and Athlone every day.

Cllr John Keogh also said the delay was extremely frustrating, pointing out that the first meeting with the TII took place in 2017. “It’s nearly 18 months since our last meeting with the TII and despite the commitments given, we are no further on,” he said.

Cllr Laurence Fallon, who said the survey was long overdue, spoke of his own experience recently of driving his jeep and trailer on this road and the risks involved. This included cars coming in both directions trying to turn off the N61 but without the aid of turning lanes. “I was a sitting duck,” he said.

Cllr Tony Ward said that he had raised this issue since being elected in 2004. He said that were huge safety concerns on this road, proposing that a roundabout be put in place near the Curraghboy junction in Curnaseer where cars were “queueing up” there to get out onto the N61.

While fellow councillors thought there was merit in the idea, it was agreed to hold off on any such proposal until everyone had seen the contents of the report.