Council urged to 'finally' tackle Athlone junction

Local representatives have called on the council to "finally deal with the dangers" posed by junction between the Dublin Road and the Derries Road in Athlone.

However the request was met with a lukewarm response from the local authority, which said that it would have to purchase land to improve the junction and this was not one of its main priorities at present.

The junction has been highlighted at council meetings numerous times over the years, but action has not been taken to improve it.

At a meeting earlier this month, Mayor Aengus O'Rourke put forward a motion calling on the Athlone Municipal District to "again consider options to tackle and finally deal with the dangers presented by The Derries/Dublin Road junction."

The council's reply stated that the main issue at the junction was "the absence of adequate sightlines for traffic emerging from the minor road, and this can only be rectified through the acquisition of appropriate lands."

The council said it was not planning to purchase the lands needed at present "due to the other roads-related priorities in the District."

Cllr O'Rourke said he was "disappointed" that the council was not treating this as a priority, given the number of times the issue had neen raised in the past.

Improving the junction was "a safety issue" according to Cllr John Dolan, who said "it's within the environs of the town and if it was solved there's an opportunity for sustainable building (in The Derries)."

The council's Director of Services Barry Kehoe said making the junction safer would cost approximately €50,000, plus the cost of acquiring the necessary land.

"We'd love to do it and it will be something we will do sometime," said Mr Kehoe. 

The discussion concluded with Cllr Paul Hogan asking if there was were "any other lands we could identify in order to put an egress out onto the Dublin Road, which is one of the busiest roads in town."

 He said he was aware of "an alternative" that could be developed into a much safer junction.

"I think I know the one you're thinking of. Mmm," said Mr Kehoe.

"Mmm is right," said Cllr Hogan. 

"It would lead to a much safer junction and open up a lot of land,” he added.