Trial of new system at town centre junction in June

A new phase has been reached in the long-running attempt to ease the traffic congestion problem that has existed at the McDonald’s restaurant in Mullingar since the road layout was changed five years ago.

At the April meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad, the mayor, Cllr Ken Glynn, asked formally when “the necessary changes to the McDonald’s junction will be implemented” – and was told a six-month trial of a new arrangement is to begin in June.

The formal written response to Cllr Glynn stated that following a design to make the Castle Street/Pearse Street junction a three-arm signalised junction, a road safety audit was required.

That, Cllr Glynn was informed, is expected to be completed within the next two weeks.

“A number of site meetings have also taken place with the traffic light contractor in the past month. Consultation is required with the local businesses,” the response continued.

It then went on to state that it is envisaged that the changes will be implemented as a trial in June and that the trial should end in December.

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Cllr Glynn welcomed the announcement, but wondered if there was a ‘Plan B’ in case the three-arm signalised junction option proves not to resolve the problems.

Director of services, Deirdre Reilly, said that other options had been discussed, but this was the preferred option.

“We’re going to let it run for six months and then [if it doesn’t work out], we’ll have to go back to seeing what a Plan B might look at,” she said.