Detailed plans for Mullingar's Ardmore Road revealed

Detailed plans for the upgrade of the Ardmore Road in Mullingar are to go to public consultation shortly.

The 1.7km road is to have a facelift ahead of the opening of the new Curraghmore school, and in the following four years, according to the county council’s senior engineer, Michael Connolly, who outlined the plans to members of the Mullingar Municipal District.

Surrounded by agricultural and residential zoned lands, it is to be upgraded as part of the Marlinstown Ardmore Plan in four phases.

The first phase is to be completed ahead of the school opening and involves the commencement of a 6-metre wide carriageway, Mr Connolly explained.

A “table top” speed ramp at Ardmore Hills will be installed, as will a 3-metre wide shared pedestrian and cycle facility south of the site, from the school to Dublin Road.

The council will also provide a pedestrian and cycle crossing near Ardmore Close.

A 200-metre link road between the school and the Ardmore Road is currently under construction, and will serve as the school’s main entrance. This link road will eventually connect to IDA industrial area on N52 and to the Dublin Road, close to the roundabout.

Mr Connolly said the link road will include a pedestrian crossing, and two new pedestrian crossings will be installed on the roundabout on Dublin Road, one on the Dublin side, and one on the Ardmore road side.

A pedestrian route winding through Pettiswood Manor and Ardmore Close to the Ardmore Road, which already exists, will provide another access route to the school.

Phase II

The second phase is to be carried out within two years of the school’s construction and involves the continuation of the 6-metre carriageway upgrade. This phase includes the pedestrian and cycle facility from Saunders Bridge to the school, on north side of the road, consisting of a 2-metre footpath and a two-way cycle track, with an overall width of 3 metres.

Phase III

The third phase is a bridge crossing the Royal Canal and the railway line, linking the Ardmore Road with the Russellstown Road.

Phase IV

Phase four is the continuation of the pedestrian and cycle facility from the school site to Dublin Road on the north side of the Ardmore Road, and that will complete the upgrading.

The plans for phase one are to be available to the public in the coming weeks and there will be a formal consultation process in accordance with part VIII of the Planning Act.

Black Spot

Cllr Aidan Davitt said the one big problem in the town was the roundabout at the tobacco factory on Dublin Road, which he labelled a black spot for accidents, and hoped that something better could be achieved there.

Cllr Mick Dollard agreed saying it was “the most dangerous roundabout in Mullingar”.

The Labour man also understood that roughly €150,000 was paid from this year’s paid parking fund towards the project, and wondered how many years the MMD would have to continue to do so.

In response, director of services for the Mullingar Municipal District, Martin Murray, said €120,000 will have to be paid this year and next year towards the Ardmore Road upgrade.

As regards the full capital spend for the Ardmore Road upgrade, Mr Murray said he would return to members with the figures.