Commuters freewheeling through county as new N6 opened

Around 70,000 motorists have travelled the new N6 bypass of Moate, Horseleap and Kilbeggan, since it opened one week ago today. Beleaguered motorists, traders and residents used to the rush-hour and weekend gridlock of Moate could finally breath a sigh of relief as the massive jams disappeared. The Moate, Horseleap and Kilbeggan bypass, which will soon be upgraded to motorway status as part of the M6, was officially opened last Wednesday by the Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey. Councillor Joe Whelan said he was honoured to perform his first official function as Cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council. He said that the reputation of the family-run businesses in the town and quality of the products will continue to encourage passing trade. 'There"s a tradition of people who are traversing across Dublin to Galway, stopping in Moate at butcher shops and coffee shops and I believe that will continue, because the road provides this facility to exit and continue on your journey without having to backtrack that"s a huge positive in favour of Moate compared to other towns along the motorway,' he said. He said the bypass would not only help ease the travelling pressures of commuters but also the many people in the area who travel in and out to Athlone for work every day. 'Lovely and all as Kilbeggan, Moate and everywhere else are, sitting in traffic for 45 minutes or an hour when you"re trying to make your way either to Galway or Dublin, or somewhere in between, was not a pleasant experience. Neither was it a very pleasant experience for the residents and the shop owners and traders in any of the towns and villages along and today changes that,' said Minister Noel Dempsey, speaking before cutting the tape. He also praised the positive attitude taken by the business people in Moate. Fianna Fáil Deputy Mary O"Rourke said that Moate will now grow just like its neighbouring town did. 'One time, Athlone was a town that everyone just had a tale to tell about how you couldn"t get through Athlone, now all that has changed and Athlone revived itself greatly once it got the bypass and so it will be with Moate... I think the town will be re-invigorated and will be able to find itself again,' she said. Deputy O"Rourke also praised the government for completing the bypass on time and within budget. Fine Gael Senator Nicky McFadden thanked the people who sold the land to the NRA as she said without them there would be no road. She said the bypass would 'give Moate back to Moate people'. 'I have no doubt that businesses here will thrive, that they will take off, they"ll have lots of room to park, people will be able to go in and out shopping and use the restaurants and the pubs in comfort,' the Senator added. Michael Kelly, Project Engineer with Westmeath County Council, also attended the opening last week, as did Barry Keogh Director of Services with Westmeath County Council and Cllr Barry Cowen, Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council. The Athlone to Ballinasloe section of the M6 will by completed by 2009 and the entire Dublin to Galway motorway will be in use in 2010, according to the Government and NRA.