Long-awaited opening of Offaly road postponed again

THE opening of the long-awaited Northern Distributor Road in Birr has been postponed once again.
It was due to open before St Patrick's Day but now it's hoped it will open by the May Bank Holiday Weekend. It had previously been earmarked for an Autumn 2025 opening.
The road is 370 metres in length and is costing €1.5 million. It's hoped it will somewhat alleviate Birr's serious traffic congestion problem. It connects the Tullamore Road (N52) in the Lidl area to the Banagher Road (R439), enhancing access to St Brendan's Community School and residential areas. The road has been under construction since early 2025, involving construction of the road, footpaths, cycleways, and associated infrastructure, with the goal of improving traffic flow, supporting development, and enhancing connectivity in Birr. The Contractor is Kenny Civils and Plant Ltd, Laurencetown, Galway. In March 2025 the Council said the work would take seven months, aiming for an October/November 2025 opening.
“The new road,” a Council Engineer said, “will provide improved access to both primary and secondary schools within the vicinity of the scheme through the provision of a green, safe, sustainable cycling and walking infrastructure. The project will also open up zoned development lands and promote compact growth and permeability, and assist in promoting the tourism potential offered by Birr’s historic and unique Georgian town centre.” The project is being managed by the Roads and Transport Department of Offaly County Council and TOBIN Consulting Engineers under the guidance of the Offaly County Council Director of Services.
“The road when completed,” said Cllr Audrey Hennessy Kennedy back in March 2025, “will help to alleviate congestion from our Town Centre, St Brendan’s Community school and will create a much-needed link between the N52 and the R439.”
During the recent March 2026 meeting of the MD, Cllr Hennessy Kennedy said the fact the opening of the road has been delayed to the May Bank Holiday Weekend is “very frustrating”. She also raised an important Health & Safety issue associated with the new road. “It's very important that the footpath on the Banagher Road is linked with the footpath to Cappaneale. There is no sign of this being done and I am very worried about it. If it's done, if this footpath is constructed, it will make it a safe walking area to the school, shops, etc. At the moment people have to walk out on the road before they can get back onto the footpath. This is an unnecessary safety risk.”
Work is also progressing on the Southern Distributor Road which will run from the County Arms/Tesco roundabout to Syngefield, past the new Primary Care Centre.
During the March meeting of Birr Municipal District, Director of Services Ann Dillon said the Councillors agreed during their January meeting to follow former Councillor John Carroll's suggestion to call the new Northern road “Bóthar na Laochra”.
During the official opening of Gaelscoil na Laochra last July, Mr Carroll, in his speech, said Bóthar na Laochra would be very appropriate. "It would be our first Irish named road in the town," he said. "Timely to have our first Irish titled road. It could be dedicated to the sporting, cultural, entrepreneurial giants of Birr, the Laochra who have contributed to the development of our town. This school is the prominent public building on the link road. The school via the Department of Education has delivered a section of the road. I think we have to ensure that by default the Northern Distributor Road is not referred to after the large commercial building on the road."

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