New one-way traffic system in Athlone gets go-ahead

Over five years since it was first mooted, Westmeath County Council is set to extend the one-way traffic system on the westside of Athlone.

The new proposal, which was voted in by councillors at the December meeting of Athlone-Moate Municipal District recently, will see five more areas on the westside of the town included in the one-way system, including Excise Street; Grattan Row; Abbey Lane; Chapel Street and Lyster Street.
District Manager Jackie Finney said the proposals outlined would lead to improved safety at the Bastion Court/O'Connell Street/Chapel Street junction, and would also allow for the introduction of additional parking spaces on Chapel St, Lyster St and Peter's Port.
The council recommended to members that all traffic on Excise Street and Grattan Row run from west to east, while traffic on Abbey Lane, Chapel St and Lyster St would run from north to south.
In effect, traffic will now be only able to approach the Dean Crowe Theatre and St Paul’s NS from the townside, rather than from Deerpark Road.
All traffic leaving St Paul’s NS and the Dean Crowe Theatre will now travel down Deerpark Road and either through Parnell Square or past the Shamrock Lodge Hotel.

 

A Westmeath County Council map of the agreed new one-way system on Athlone's westside with explanation of arrows.

The extension of the one-way system was proposed by Cllr Aengus O'Rourke, who described it as “a very welcome development which has the support of residents on the westside” and seconded by Cllr John Dolan, who pointed out that “everybody had the chance to have their say” on this issue during the extensive public consultation process.
“This will make the whole area much safer and more accessible,” he added.
The move was also strongly supported by Athlone Mayor, Cllr Frankie Keena, who welcomed the safety aspects of the new plan and also the additional parking.
Green Party Cllr Louise Heavin wanted to know if the proposal to extend the one-way system would come back before members again before it is implemented, but the District Manager said there would be “no further discussion” and the project would be implemented without any further delay.
The proposed one-way traffic system has been the subject of public consultation which began in November 2015, and continued into the following year, before being shelved for a further two years.
In 2018, the matter was back on the agenda of the then-Athlone Muncipal District again, at which point it was decided to embark on a further round of public consultation. Following submissions, it was agreed in October of last year to re-advertise the 2015 proposals, but with a reverse one-way traffic flow on Excise Street. The amended proposals were advertised on January 30 last, and five submissions were received before the closing date of March 19 last.
Among the written submissions was one from St Peter's Primary School on Excise St, which outlined support for the proposal, but highlighted safety concerns for pedestrians using the footpath on Excise Street, particularly at school drop off times,
St Paul's NS on Lyster Street also made a submission welcoming the proposals, but outlining concerns in relation to children crossing the road to board and alight buses, while the Board and staff of Athlone Community Training Centre stated their support for the proposal, adding that “the whole area will benefit from the enhanced traffic flow” of the new one-way system.