€32m to be spent on roads

Approximately €32m is to be spent on roads projects in Westmeath this year, senior engineer Damien Grennan told members of Westmeath County Council at their March monthly meeting, held last week in Mullingar, as he went through the council’s transportation works programme for 2024.

“We continue to focus on investment in areas such as road safety improvements, the provision of high quality Active Travel infrastructure, and climate change adaptation measures,” Mr Grennan told the meeting, adding that this investment would assist the council in further improving the resilience and safety of the transportation network, especially for vulnerable road users, and help to realise the council’s objectives as set out in its road safety and climate action plans.

Mr Grennan went on to say that under Active Travel, delivery continues of high quality and safe infrastructure projects such as segregated cycleways, pedestrian crossing upgrades, widened footpaths, pedestrian and cycleways, and bridges.

“Provision of this infrastructure will improve access to key destinations and public transport hubs, which is crucial to promoting an ordered shift away from the private motor vehicle,” he stated.

Continuing, Mr Grennan said that another key focus of this year’s programme is the provision of high quality front-of-school infrastructure works.

Bus shelters

“Our bus shelter programme will also further assist with promoting public transport as an alternative option for commuters,” he added.

Mr Grennan told the members that 19 bus shelters are to be provided this year, eight in the Athlone area and 11 in the Mullingar area.