Busy link road to close for almost a month

One of Mullingar's busiest link roads is set to close for the best part of a month later this year.

The L-1003, the road that links the Delvin Road to the roundabout on the Castlepollard Road, is to close from 7am on April 7 until 6pm on May 2. The road is being closed by Westmeath County Council to facilitate the installation of a new cycleway, footpaths and pedestrian crossing, as well as road realignment works.

Last week the council came under fire from local representatives, who are opposed to its plans to remove the filter lanes at the Dublin Bridge Junction as as part of its €7m Dublin Road Active Travel Plan, which is at the preliminary design phase.

The council has also been criticised this month for widening the footpaths on the Ashe Road and thus reducing the space available for vehicles.

Cllr Ken Glynn has been vocal in his opposition to both the proposed changes at the Dublin Bridge junction and the widening of the footpath on the Ashe Road.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, he said that the council needs to listen to people's views. Cllr Glynn also revealed that he is seeking an “urgent review” of the work carried out on the Ashe Road.

“It [the Ashe Road] is a built-up residential area and it’s so squeezed.

“I’ve had numerous complaints already and I’m adamant that this needs to be reviewed, possibly needs to be reverted, and certainly the road needs to be widened,” he said.

“Do we need a big, wide footpath? It makes absolutely no sense to me. I’m disappointed with what has happened and I would be asking the council to urgently review it. Listen to the people who use them every day of the week,” Cllr Glynn said.

People have until 4pm on February 26 to give their views on the proposed temporary closure of the L-1003.