Mr. Alan Mulryan, Senior Executive Engineer with the National Roads Design Office, gave a presentation to Members on the N61 National Secondary Route between Athlone and Boyle, with a particular focus on the route between Roscommon town and Athlone, following the publication of the N61 Roscommon Town to Athlone Strategic Review, published recently.

The main points of the presentation covered:

·         Details of the national road network in the county including N61 Boyle to Athlone route and upgrade of sections recently complete.

·         Minor projects currently in design and planning on the N61 include a 4km between Tulsk and Clashaganny and a 5.5km stretch between Tulsk and Gortnacrannagh. The Clashaganny to Tulsk project will have to be restarted again following a judicial review. The Tulsk to Gortnacrannagh project is near completion.

·         As part of the N5 bypass between Ballaghaderreen and Scramoge, 2km of the N61 between Gortnacrannagh and Elphin will also be upgraded.

·         A strategic review of the N61 between Roscommon town and Athlone commenced in August 2022, led by ROD-AECOM.

·         The analysis summary of the review details:

o   Statistics on fatal, serious and minor collisions since 1996

o   The high number of junctions and direct accesses along N61- classified as very high by TII.

o   A series of 107 measures were identified to help mitigate deficiencies along the N61

o   A total of 35 measures were cited under 15 priority interventions.

o   Fifteen measures have been designated and categorised as preventative, junction optimisation and Active Travel interventions.

o   These interventions are seen as stop gap interventions in improving safety but would not address the substantive issues such as entrance and access for which a new route is the recommended solution.

·         It is proposed to impose speed limit restrictions from 100kph to 80kph from Roscommon town to Knockcroghery; from St. Brigid’s GAA club to the Hodson Bay and from Hodson Bay to Athlone.

·         Potential parking facilities have been identified at Ganly’s roundabout and at Kiltoom Cemetery.

·         In respect of junction optimisation, five priority locations identified are located at St. Brigid’s GAA grounds, St. John’s Church, Kiltoom junction, Ballybay NS and Ballymurray.

·         Active Travel priority interventions include connecting community facilities to existing Active Travel facilities in Monksland and Athlone resulting in a 7.5km  stretch of active travel provision between St. Brigid’s and Ganly’s roundabout.

·         Further priorities include upgrading existing pedestrian facilities in Knockcroghery for shared use between Greenhills and St. Dominic’s.

·         Other measures include a pedestrian crossing adjacent to Knockcroghery National School and connections the local soccer pitches in Lecarrow.

·         The fifteen priority interventions would address a further 35 measures regarded as short-term measures most in need in terms of safety.

·         The NR 2040 document downgrades the role of the N61 in providing regional connectivity between the regional centres of Athlone and Sligo.

·         Under the document, it is proposed upgrading the N55 and N4 routes as the connecting routes between Sligo and Athlone.

·         A long-standing objective of successive Roscommon County Council Development Plans to upgrade the N61 from National Secondary to National Primary status.

·         As a road of strategic importance to the county and region, improvements would be strongly supported in local, regional and national planning policy.

Members discussed the Strategic Review of the N61 –

·         It was claimed there was no prospect of a new N61 route as long as the route continues to be identified as a national secondary route.

·         Members expressed concern over delays for planned works between Clashaganny and Tulsk.

·         Councillors said it intolerable if the road connection from Athlone to Sligo was to proceed through county Longford instead of county Roscommon.

·         Members described as frustrating the decision not to proceed with the Ballymurray to Knockcroghery, bypass resulting in potential investment being lost to the area.

·         Appeals were made for a new plan to be put in place for works between Tulsk and Clashaganny arising from increased dialogue and engagement with affected landowners.

·         A lot of freight traffic is using the N61.

·         The number of dangerous junctions that exist on the route was also referenced with appeals for the creation of underpasses as a solution.

·         Concerns were expressed over potential downgrading of the road, despite the proposed designation of city status for Athlone under the 2040 National Planning Framework.

·         The designation of 80kph speed limit areas along the N61 was welcomed.

·         Representations were made seeking the provision of right-hand turning lanes between Lecarrow and Kiltoom.

·         A proposal for works at the Carnagh junction rather than at St. John’s was made.

·         Councillors enquired how long it would be for proposals, once approved, to be delivered on, once consultants were appointed.

·         Members repeated their calls for the upgrade of the entire N61 route, claiming it was important political pressure was brought to bear on the issue.

Mr. Mulryan responded to the issues raised by members –

·         The report did not highlight the priority for turning lanes, citing three requirements for their provision, namely – traffic use, collision history and cross section standards such as keeping a hard shoulder to a width of 1.5m.

·         Funding for five priority interventions had been sought, subject to design and planning and the planning process itself.

·         While there were no ‘quick fix’ solutions, much in the way of process would be completed in a two to three month period.

Chief Executive Shane Tiernan also responded to the issues raised by members -

·         The Council was returning to the design stage to reassess the N61 Tulsk to Clashaganny project, rather than moving to a judicial review and councillors will be informed with new proposals for the route in due course.

·         The work of the NRO was acknowledged following extensive consultations with consultants engaged.

·         Any letter to the TII would be substantive in its content.

·         Mr. Tiernan said he hoped that with political pressure works would be carried out on the route.

Acting Director of Services Greg O’Donnell agreed with the sentiments expressed by members -

·         Proposals to TII would have to come from the Regional Roads Design Office following which TII would then consult with the Department of Transport.

·         The issue of right-hand lanes was complicated by the number of junctions affected, stating standards would have to be applied.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Fitzmaurice

SECONDED by Cllr. Byrne

It was AGREED to write to the Transport Minister to request TII to devise a route for the N61 to enable necessary improvements to be carried out.

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr. Kilduff

SECONDED by Cllr. Kelly

It was AGREED to write to the Transport Minister urging that representations in respect of the N61, made at the Athlone Municipal District level would be responded to by the Department.