€6m spent on consultants - and still no N4 upgrade

After spending in the region of €6m in consultant fees for the long-awaited upgrade of the N4 Mullingar to Longford road, Westmeath County Council is now in the process of suspending the appointment of consultants to progress the project.

This was the stark scenario laid before members at the February meeting of Athlone Moate Municipal District last week by director of services, Barry Kehoe, who confirmed that funding for the scheme has once again been shelved for 2022.

The issue was raised by Cllr Johnnie Penrose, who submitted a motion requesting the council to write to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in an effort to ascertain when the upgrade works on the N4 are due to proceed.

Cllr Penrose extended his sympathies to the family of the young man who lost his life on the N4 at Ballinafid on February 4 last, and described that stretch of road as “one of the most dangerous in the country” and he said it was “disgraceful” that funding has once again been withdrawn for much-needed and urgent upgrade works.

Cllr Paul Hogan said the N4 was “one of eight major roads” to have funding withdrawn this year, while Cllr John Dolan asked a direct question of the executive in relation to the amount of money that has already been spent on consultants for the project.

Mr Kehoe explained that Westmeath County Council has been working on upgrade proposals for the N4 for “well over two decades” and he described it as “very unfortunate” that the project has been “put on the shelf for the second time”.

He added that 20km of the N4 road goes through Westmeath and the motivations “are multiple” for that stretch of road to be upgraded. He said “in the region of €6m” has been spent to date on fees to consultant, and he pointed out that the road is “beyond the safe and comfortable level” of road alignment and is in urgent need of upgrading.

Describing the N4 as “a national priority route” that serves “a significant area to the north of Mullingar”, Mr Kehoe said it would not be a matter for him to comment as to why funding has been withdrawn. “That is a matter for the government, but I would hope that it will come back on our agenda, sooner rather than later,” he added.

“That is a staggering amount of money to have been spent on the N4 and still no upgrade,” said Cllr Aengus O’Rourke, who suggested that the minister for transport should also be written to.

“I am in favour of that,” said Cllr Penrose.

The meeting agreed to send letters to both Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan and to Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

In their written response to Cllr Penrose’s motion, Westmeath County Council stated that “due to the absence of funding in 2022, the council is in the process of suspending and thereafter, terminating the appointment of consultants to progress this scheme”.