Preferred route for Cavestown to Kilrush scheme announced

Westmeath County Council have announced the preferred route corridor for the N52 Cavestown to Kilrush road improvement scheme.

Thework will improve road safety, connectivity and journey reliability on that section of the national road network.

The council thanked everyone who participated in the public consultation process and shared feedback.

The scheme now moves to phase 3 (preliminary design), when there will be ongoing engagement with landowners, stakeholders and the community.

Anyone who has queries regarding the scheme can contact the Westmeath NRO: 044 9334250: info@wccprojectoffice.ie. Post: National Roads Office, Culleen Beg, Mullingar, County Westmeath, N91 T2PE.

There is more information on the project webpage.

Need for the Scheme

The N52 between Mullingar and Delvin has undergone a series of improvement projects in recent years, aimed at enhancing safety and connectivity along this important route, including most recently the N52 Cloghan to Billistown Scheme, which was completed in 2020.

Further north of Delvin, the section between Cavestown and Kilrush has been identified as being below standard.

This section is currently a narrow single carriageway road with poor sightlines, sharp curves, and a special speed limit of 80kmh due to safety concerns.

The alignment does not meet current design standards, particularly for the volume and type of traffic that uses the road daily, especially heavy goods vehicles.

Safety is a significant issue along th route. Between 2020 and 2024, 11 collisions were recorded, more than double the national average for similar roads, and there is particular concern around the S-bend near Ballinlough Castle.

The proposed N52 Cavestown to Kilrush Scheme will enhance road safety, and support accessibility, economic development and long-term growth in the region.