New route option for part of N61 road unveiled

A member of Roscommon County Council has called for a comprehensive upgrade of the N61 from Lecarrow village to Athlone to be carried out in tandem with a proposed new road from Ballymurray to Knockcroghery, details of which were unveiled on Monday of this week.

While Cllr Donal Kilduff has broadly welcomed the preferred route corridor for the new 7.5km stretch of road from Ballymurray to Knockcroghery which was outlined to members of Roscommon County Council by the NRA this week, he admits to having “major concerns” about the poor quality of the remainder of the N61 into Athlone.

The preferred route corridor, which will impact some 40 residents, is the C3 route which diverts from the current N61 before the railway gates at Ballymurray, before crossing the railway line and then the existing N61 between Finneran’s pub and the Kilteevan turn off, just outside the village of Knockcroghery. The route then proceeds south through Corbooley and then down to Nolan’s Cross beyond Lecarrow village.

Cllr Kilduff, who lives just up the road from Nolan’s Cross, says the “wonderful new stretch of road” which has been proposed will increase both traffic speeds and volumes, and he has major concerns about the fact that motorists will emerge from this road onto a “very substandard stretch” of the N61 into Athlone once they pass Nolan’s Cross.

“I would very strongly advocate that the remaining section of road from Nolan’s bend to Athlone needs upgrading in tandem with the new N61 road, with particular emphasis on the installation of turning lanes and the extension of speed restrictions, particularly through Kiltoom.”

Similar concerns have been expressed by Cllr John Naughten, who said he would view the emergence of the preferred route corridor for the Ballymurray to Knockcroghery stretch as being “phase one” of a complete new stretch of road directly from Knockcroghery into Athlone.

There is a very significant need for a new road the whole way into Athlone, preferably of dual carriageway standard” said Cllr Naughten who added that the road from Roscommon to Athlone caters for “up to 13,000 cars a day” and there are serious safety concern along the route, particularly the absence of turning lanes at major junctions.

“The preferred route corridor is a positive first step, but we would see it as just a first step” said Cllr Naughten.

In welcoming the emergence of the preferred route for the new stretch of the N61, Cllr Tony Ward said this was the route which was identified “40 to 50 years ago” and he described it as a “very badly needed project.”

Having expressed his concerns about the remainder of the N61 into Athlone over many years, Cllr Ward said he would continue to advocate that the new road be continued into Athlone at some stage in the future.

Transport Infrastucture Ireland officials told Monday evening’s presentation of the preferred route for the new stretch of N61 to councillors from the Roscommon and Athlone areas that it was the best option in terms of the environment and heritage constraints, as well as maximising the potential of an overall upgrade of the route from Sligo to Athlone.

Anyone affected by the preferred route corridor can book an online video or telephone meeting with officials from Roscommon County Council, with meetings to take place weekdays from Jan 4 to 29 next.

Full details of the preferred route corridor and how to book an online or telephone meeting is available on www.n61roscommon.ie