New 1km of Delvin road opens but ‘extreme caution’ advised

A kilometre stretch of the new six-kilometre road, from Turin to Billistown on the N52 Mullingar to Delvin road, opened on Monday of this week, but a senior engineer working on the project has warned the motoring public to excise “extreme caution”.

Niall Kennedy, project engineer with the National Roads Office, said the good news is the one kilometre stretch is complete and fully lined.

“While it’s nice new kilometre stretch to travel, we want to let people know to be extremely careful, as where it ties in with the old road near where the site compound is located, shortly after Turin Church, you’re straight back in to dangerous bends and whatnot,” said Mr Kennedy.

“So we’re asking motorists to watch their speed.”

Mr Kennedy also explained that due to Coivd-19, work was delayed on the project site for two months, which has pushed the completion date back to December.

“The entire Turin to Billistown project was meant to be completed in September, but due to C-19, work had to stop for two months completely, and then we had to restructure how we worked.

“The main N52 Road to Delvin will remain open during upcoming works, which are expected to continue throughout November.

“However two local roads off the N52, including the Fennor Road (L5620) and Battstown Road (L5621), will have to be closed as two staggered junctions will have to be newly built,” said Mr Kennedy.

“We’re expecting works to be finished around the end of November, but we have secured a work extension until December just in case we encounter any further delays – but hopefully not.

“This is a multi-million euro project and once this road is open, which will be in time for Christmas, it will be good news for everyone.

“We want to express our gratitude to the travelling public, and indeed to the landowners, for all their patience during the course of the project.”