Council press ahead with plans to keep hgvs off rochfortbridge road

A move to get heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) off the R400 road between Mullingar and Rochfortbridge is coming close to completion, members of Westmeath County Council’s Planning and Transportation SPC have been told.

At the first meeting of the SPC since the election, director of services Barry Kehoe outlined the committee’s likely work programme for the years to 2016, and during the discussion on HGV management, Cllr Paul Daly said that the issue was one that had been raised frequently at the meetings of the old Kilbeggan Area Committee.

He asked if signs could be erected directing HGVs away from that route, to the N6/N52.

In response, Mr Kehoe said he would be “very surprised” if the signs were not erected in the next two months.

Cllr Tom Farrell said there is a similar issue with a road between Moate and Mount Temple, off Junction 7, on the N6 and that recently, two trucks and a bus had to reverse 200 yards back when they met on the road.

Mr Kehoe said that the council is changing the signage at that junction.