Disappointment as Tullamore to Kilbeggan link road falls off priority list

THE proposed N52 link road between Tullamore and Kilbeggan has fallen off the Department of Transport's priority list and it will be at least 10 to 15 years before anything happens on the project.

This was made clear to local representatives when they met with Minister Eamon Ryan in Tullamore recently.

The N52 currently carries 14,000 vehicles per day and operates above capacity on a single carriageway with a narrow hard shoulder. The plan was to upgrade 8km of the national secondary route between Tullamore bypass and the M6 at Kilbeggan.

Offaly county Council had been working in partnership with Westmeath County Council in association with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to deliver the project. A preferred route was chosen and public consultations took place. However, expected funding in 2022 never materialised and the project was unable to advance to the detailed design stage. It was then suspended until this year.

The Cathaoirleach of Tullamore Municipal District, Councillor Neil Feighery said that landowners whose land has been ''in some ways sterilised during the route selection process need to be released from obligations in relation to this scheme as it is having the potential of preventing the expansion of farm/livestock buildings and even the development of homes for rural dwellers,'' he said.

At the March meeting of Tullamore Municipal District, Councillor Tony McCormack said the road was needed on health and safety grounds. He described it as a death trap for those people travelling to and from school.

He stressed that it is also needed for the future development of Tullamore as a place to do business. Cllr McCormack said through Deputy Barry Cowen's office he has been trying to organise a meeting with Junior Minister at the Department of Transport, Jack Chambers.

''The council here has been working very hard to get to the next phase. Unfortunately it is left, as the Minister said it will be 10 to 15 years before that road is done, sure like the whole thing will have to start again. We are wasting money here. We need to get this road done now, '' he said.

Councillor Neil Feighery also expressed his disappointment. "I think we must accept that unfortunately this project is not now going to be delivered in the time frame originally anticipated,'' he said.

''I am categorically not saying that we have to throw the towel in on delivering this project for the Tullamore Municipal District and the county. However, it was made quite clear by the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan TD at his recent meeting with the members of Offaly County Council that the project is not now going to be funded in the immediate term.

When asked by me and other members that he prioritises the delivery of this much needed scheme, Minister Ryan very directly said that he was charged with balancing the books within his Department and deciding on the prioritisation and the delivery of large capital schemes.''

Cllr Feighery said the Minister is focusing on the delivery of bypasses for regional towns in order to facilitate the development and rollout of Active Travel Measures and better place making.

''That is all very admirable but it means that 14,000 vehicles will continue to pass through Durrow every day. I have no doubt that this development will come as a real disappointment to the community in Durrow whose concerns about the level of traffic, speeding and safety have been well highlighted,'' said Cllr Feighery.

''The Council now needs to give a renewed focus to deliver traffic calming measures and in particular make the junction between the N52 and the High Road much safer for all road users. I know that this will need to be in conjunction with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII)," concluded Cllr Feighery.

Councillor Sean O'Brien said, ''we absolutely will not accept it, because first of all it's a danger to school children. The N52 to the M6 is vital for attracting industry to the Tullamore area. We have to have connectivity from Galway to Dublin for exports. I also called on the Oireachtas members to fight for the case for financing for the continuation of the development of the link from Tullamore to the M6,'' he said.