Monksland bypass set to close for six months

Traffic hell in Athlone, as a decision to close the Monksland exit of the Athlone bypass to facilitate works on the M6 is expected to cause traffic chaos in the Baylough and Monksland area for the next six months. Contractors building the Athlone to Ballinasloe stage of the M6 motorway, SIAC Wills Ltd, are expected to apply to Roscommon County Council for permission to close off a section of the bypass. From the middle of March to build the necessary infrastructure linking the bypass to the motorway at a location near the Élan factory. The works are scheduled to continue until September and the Westmeath Independent understands it will not be possible to complete this section of the motorway unless the closure order is granted. Significant traffic disruption is likely to be caused, due to the complicated diversions that are expected to be put in place. All traffic bypassing Athlone, including the huge volume of Dublin to Galway motorists, will have to take the Roscommon exit, use the old Tuam Road, drive through Baylough and then get back on the N6 at the newly-built roundabout at Summerhill. Galway to Dublin traffic will also have to take the same route in reverse. While accepting that the road closure is essential for the M6 works to be completed, Fine Gael Town Councillor Mick O"Connell is calling on both Roscommon and Westmeath County Councils to work together to prevent chaos in the town. 'This cannot be a case of Roscommon Council approving the closures and leaving Westmeath and Athlone with the resultant chaos,' he said. 'The impact of this closure will be much more serious than the last and it seems that all eastbound and westbound traffic from Dublin to Galway or vice versa will be routed through Baylough. I have no confidence that there is a real consideration of the impact of these closures to the town, to residents, businesses and workers in the area. If not properly managed there will be gridlock.'