Public consultation to begin on N4 upgrade from Mullingar to Roosky

A public consultation process on the route of the N4 Mullingar to Longford Roosky upgrade has this morning been announced by Westmeath County Council.

The project involves the upgrade of a 52km section of the road – and the public consultation will include the assessment of alternatives routes.

The stretch of roadway is currently a single carriageway road that passes through or close to several settlements, including Ballinalack, Rathowen, Edgeworthstown, Longford and Newtownforbes.

The upgrade project is being undertaken by Westmeath County Council in association with Longford County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the council has said it is not possible to arrange formal events in the local area at this time. Instead the project website www.n4mullingartolongford.ie now contains all the information that would normally be displayed at such an event.

In July 2010, a Preferred Route Corridor and Route Selection report for this scheme were published but at that time, due to funding restrictions further work on the project was suspend

Setting out the reasons why the project is on the table once more, the council has stated that that section of the N4 is operating with traffic levels in excess of those catered for by the current road cross section.

A major consideration is the extent to which safety is compromised due to the fact that over the 52kms, there are over 500 junctions and private accesses along this section of the N4.

Annouoncing the consultation process, the council said that the project intends to support the economic performance of the local and wider North-West region through the provision of improved transport infrastructure, whilst minimising the environmental impact of the transport intervention.

The project is going to have to cover much of the same ground that was covered in the 2010 proposal due to changes in environmental legislation and design standards.

A further consideration that now has to be taken into account is the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Public Spending Code.

As a result, a full re-appraisal is being taken of the proposed project through the TII planning and design process, including concept and feasibility, options selection, design and environmental evaluation and the statutory processes.

Residents of the local area, members of the public and interested parties can get the full details on the dedicated website.

Brochures and questionnaires are also being distributed to households and businesses throughout the study area. Landowners previously impacted by the 2010 preferred route corridor (PRC) will also receive a separate letter from WNRO informing them that design work on the scheme has resumed.

The closing date for receipt of submissions is June 26.

For further information log onto www.n4mullingartolongford.ie or contact the design team at info@n4mullingartolongford.ie or in writing to ROD-AECOM, Unit 23C Lough Sheever Corporate Park, Robinstown, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath N91 V340 or phone 086 059 9895.