Councillors voice concern on junction to St Brigid's GAA

David Flynn

The Cathaoirleach of the Athlone Municipal District/Roscommon expressed concern at the February meeting about the lack of safety at the junction off the N61 Athlone to Roscommon road leading to St Brigid’s GAA.

“There was an accident the other night at that location, and I've been contacted about it, and while there is progress being made, we need to know where things are at in regard to a design at the junction,” said Cllr John Keogh.

Cllr Laurence Fallon agreed and said the junction was “deadly dangerous,” and there are currently three separate junctions being assessed, and all of them need attention greatly.

“The Cornaseer junction is on a par with the St Brigid’s junction and if you go out there and sit at that junction, you see cars backing up,” said Cllr Tony Ward. “I’m concerned about a young nervous driver, waiting, concerned about traffic behind them. That is a deadly junction.”

Cllr Keogh said that was on a priority list, but the St Brigid’s junction was of the most priority.

“We’re not going to get them all done, but the St Brigid’s one needs to happen as soon as possible,” he said.

Cllr. Domnick Connolly said that all the junctions need to be looked at, but the St Brigid’s one in particular needs it the most.

“It’s an absolute death trap,” he said.

“The question is when it’s going to be done, and we need to get it moved on,” said Cllr Keogh, who also said the junction was first mentioned in 2017, when he met with Transport Infrastructure Ireland.