Council plans twomonth closure of athlone road

A widely-used road in Athlone will soon be closed for two months for realignment and footpath works.

The closure of the R916/Retreat Road at the Old Garrycastle bridge in Athlone will begin on Tuesday, April 7, and is due to continue for two months until Saturday, June 6.

The work is to redevelop the old Garrycastle bridge junction for traffic and pedestrians coming from the Cartrontroy/Retreat or Cypress Gardens directtions.

The road is due to be realigned and new footpaths, which have been needed at location for some time, are to be installed.

The priority given to traffic coming towards the new bridge from Retreat/Cartrontry or Cypress Gardens is also due to be changed.

At the moment, cars coming off the old Garrycastle bridge have the right-of-way - a situation which led Athlone Mayor Cllr Frankie Keena to describe the junction as 'highly dangerous' for drivers.

In its notice of the upcoming road closure, Westmeath County Council outlined the alternative routes it is proposing for motorists.

'Traffic wishing to travel from Athlone Town along Retreat/Cartrontroy Road should divert south down the L4021 Killyon Hill Road to the R446 (Old Dublin Road) and proceed east to its junction with R916 to Garrycastle,' the council said.

'Traffic on the R916 wishing to travel towards Athlone town should divert south to the R446 and proceed west to its junction with the L4021 Killyon Hill Road.'

Local access arrangements will be in place and all diversions will be signposted, the council said.