Housing growth in west of Mullingar leads to revival of call for roundabout at Weldon's Cross

A long-running proposal to install a roundabout at Weldon’s Cross has been revived, as councillors are warning that rapid housing growth in the Mullingar West area is placing unsustainable pressure on the busy junction.

At the February meeting of the Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District, Cllr Ken Glynn called on the council to bring forward plans for a roundabout at Weldon’s Cross in the interest of public safety.

In response, the District Office confirmed that the junction is currently being re-examined in light of recent housing developments and planned Active Travel projects. The reply went on to state that the design of any improvement works would be led by the Transportation Section and delivered by the District Office, and progress depends on securing an appropriate funding source.

Cllr Glynn said he has been raising the issue since 2004 and believes the idea of a roundabout was first proposed many years ago, before the present approach was taken.

“A lot has been done there since, but I think we need to go back to that option again,” he said.

Cllr Glynn pointed to significant expansion in the area, particularly in Charlestown, where further phases of housing are expected.

The junction is heavily used during morning and evening peak times, he said, and motorists are increasingly diverting to local roads to avoid delays.

“It is nigh impossible at times. If you talk to anyone in Ballinea, Cloon Lara or now Charlestown, it is an absolute nightmare,” he said.

Cllr Glynn added that resident associations in Cara Vale, Cara Grove and Green Park have also raised concerns, describing the issue as affecting a large and growing population rather than a small number of households.

“We need to look at the roundabout, how it can be funded and how quickly we can get it in place. If we can get the design up and running, it is a start. I do not think we can leave it any longer,” he said.

Director of services Deirdre O’Reilly said the response stands, noting that the project would be costly and it has to be progressed through the Transportation Section rather than the district’s routine works programme.

She confirmed that the council own land at the junction and that a redesign will be required. While levy funds are available, she said a timeline for completing the in-house design cannot yet be provided.

The mayor, Cllr Mick Dollard, described the motion as important, given the scale of development in Mullingar West, and queried whether sufficient land capacity existed at the site. Ms O’Reilly confirmed that the council have ownership of the junction lands and will proceed with a redesign.

Town issues

At the same meeting, Cllr Ken Glynn raised a number of infrastructure issues within the Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District. He asked if footpaths outside Tower View could be included in the 2026 works budget, and the District Office confirmed the proposal would be considered as part of the works estimates. Cllr Glynn said he had already discussed the specific location with the district engineer and noted that the request had been submitted for the last two years, expressing hope that the stretch would be included this year.

He also sought the inclusion of footpaths at Newtown Lawns, which the district office said would likewise be considered for the 2026 programme. Cllr Glynn described that as the beginning of the upgrading process for what he said was a sizeable estate and said he hoped the works could commence this year.

In a further question, he asked if traffic calming measures could be provided at Greenpark, The Avenue, and officials again stated the matter would be considered as part of the 2026 works estimates. Cllr Glynn said that area was a busy location, close to where a barrier had previously been erected, and said traffic levels there were a concern.

Newbrook

Cllr Glynn also asked that the district resurface and raise the tabletop ramp outside the entrance to Newbrook Grove and Drive, which is currently in very poor condition.

To that, the response from the District Office was that they would consider replacing the tabletop as part of the 2026 works estimates.