Some disruption for motorists as birr road junction gets revamp

Roadworks at the Birr road junction should be complete by this Friday, according to a spokesperson for Westmeath County Council.

Traffic lights and an advance warning signs have been in place since Monday as the local authority undertake safety works and pavements improvements at the busy turn.

In bid to improve safety after several near misses, a council spokesperson said the acceleration lane will be removed from the junction as part of the works to ensure people fully stop now, instead of going into that lane at high speeds and continuing on their way.

Last year, a lorry carrying a large load of timber failed to stop at the junction and shed its load across the stretch as it attempted to slow down in the acceleration lane. Luckily, no one was injured.

In light of that incident and several others, councillors had called on the local authority to improve safety at the junction, something that will be completed within days.