Consultants propose new linkroad from Monksland to N61
There was a very positive response from members of Roscommon County Council to a proposal to construct a single carriageway road linking the R362 at the River Village roundabout in Monksland with the N61 Roscommon Road.
The idea was mooted by consulting group SYSTRA, who conducted a transport assessment recently as part of the preparation of the Athlone Joint Urban Area Plan which was revealed at a meeting of the Athlone Municipal District in Monksland recently.
Director of SYSTRA, Andrew Archer, laid out the results of the assessment and their recommendations for the council, saying: “There's a number of key junctions that have been identified which should be developed for upgrade as well along the R362 providing improved access as part of the walking/cycling strategy for active travel for Monksland into the town but also then to help manage traffic flows and volumes in those areas as well.
The purpose of (linking the roads) is that it reduces some of that traffic flow on the R362 which supports the investment in sustainable infrastructure there but also makes it a more attractive route.”
Following the transport assessment, SYSTRA have also proposed making safety improvements on the N61 and carrying out junction upgrades, working with TII to examine the feasibility of improving N6/N61 junction 12.
Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council, Cllr John Naughten commented on the strategy provided, saying: “It was something that Roscommon County Council had in previous local area plans and if it was developed would facilitate more pedestrianisation of the rest of the R362 into the urban area of Athlone which would allow for more walking and cycling.
“The focus for us will be primarily on the west side of Athlone, in particular the Monksland/Bealnamulla area, Summerhill and the N61 and the linkages there.” The Cathaoirleach added that some of the positives out of the assessment are that there will be a focus on additional bus services out to Monksland and a new link out to Summerhill.
Cllr Tony Ward welcomed the proposal of the new link road and said that it would alleviate a lot of traffic in relation to the amount of congestion. “I think some of those (proposed actions) can be done nearly within the next year or two but I would certainly like to welcome your plan and your presentation.”
Cllr John Keogh added that the transport assessment carried out by Systra was positive and said that the link road was of “critical importance for the future development of Monksland.”
Cllr Keogh continued: “I certainly hope that the funding will be put in place to provide that in the short term. I would hope that Roscommon County Council will follow through on that and start making plans for that delivery.”
Independent Cllr Kilduff said that the idea to link the R362 and the N61 was an idea that had been around for quite a while but that he was delighted to see that the idea had been vindicated. “The idea has been vindicated by a formal process here, a formal filtering process that has said, yes, this is a good idea, this will help deliver sustainable travel. He also added that since he had been elected he had been seeking safety improvements to the N61.
“A report is due in the next month or two on the N61 and this report (or) strategic document on the N61 came about as a result of our collective visit there to TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) last year. That was sought for a long time and we finally got to meet with them and it was agreed that this strategic document would be prepared to prepare our priority of interventions on the N61 to address some of the concerns that we have, issues that we've been raising for a number of years,” added Cllr Donal Kilduff.