Plan needed to alleviate traffic on N4
Traffic gridlock is a regular problem on the N4 in the Carrick-on-Shannon and Cortober areas. Pic. Gerry Faughnan
A plan is needed to alleviate traffic on the N4, especially in the Carrick-on-Shannon area, according to Sligo/Leitrim TD Frank Feighan.
It is proposed that traffic needs to go through Boyle and onto the N5 and this could take pressure off the large volume of vehicles passing through Carrick-on-Shannon, which can result in huge tailbacks.
It is expected that the long-awaited bypass will go to planning by the end of this year with an estimated completion date of 2030.
Boyle MD Cllr Sean Moylan (FF) has welcomed the latest developments. He told the Roscommon Herald that Carrick bypass is a vital piece of infrastructure that needs to be speeded up and got through as quickly as possible. “I will be speaking to Deputy Darragh O'Brien, Minister for Transport and Deputy Jack Chambers, Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation regarding this - it just needs to be got done.” He said the bypass is vital for Carrick and Cortober and would tie in with the train station offering high speed access to the eastern region.
He added that this would also “improve Cortober in leaps and bounds and bring it forward as an economic hub in North Roscommon.” “I'd like to welcome Deputy Feighan’s engagement in this process and his idea about trying to get the traffic off the N4, especially on a Friday, and back up to the new N5 at Shankill Cross - this certainly needs investigation.
“The N61 north of the new bypass from Boyle to the new N5 is very, very bad and the TII should now investigate this road,” he said, adding that works on this road should be done sooner rather than later. “There should be a system in place to get some traffic through Boyle and onto the new N5 to alleviate traffic in Carrick until such time as the new bypass is built.”
He went on to say that he felt the initial bypass route selection would have been a better option for the town.
Deputy Feighan has stressed that Carrick-on-Shannon needs the bypass to thrive and survive.
Cllr Moylan has also called for a train to run from Longford to Sligo on daily basis to facilitate workers and students in the mornings saying this would help alleviate traffic on this route.
