Cllr. Frankie Keena this week welcomed the 2010 National Roads Authority Grant Allocation for National roads in County Westmeath and in particular the large allocation to the Athlone/Glasson areas.A massive allocation of 7 million euro has been allocated for the overlay, rehabilitation and junction improvement on the Athlone Bye Pass. While further clarification is required as to what this money can be spent on I would imagine it will cover road resurfacing / rebuilding, erection of crash barriers, improved signage, lighting and off ramp junction improvements. This is fantastic news for motorists using this stretch of roadway and also for local residents who experience traffic jams at the junctions off the bye-pass, said Cllr. Keena.
For example motorists presently experience long delays at the Garrycastle & N55 Interchanges during peak times and in fact some motorists put their lives in danger trying to manage these junctions. I will be lobbying for these junctions to be included under this funding stream, added Cllr. Keena.
Also under the National Secondary Road safety schemes I welcome the allocation of 300,000 euro for traffic calming in Glasson, 300,000 euro for pavement and minor works between Cornamagh & Cornamaddy and 50,000 euro for the Cornamaddy to Garrycastle road.This money has to be spent during 2010 and it should bring these roads up to a better safety standard. has received 300,000 euro.These are all issues that I have being regularly raising at Council level and I am glad to see that Minister Noel Dempsey has responded positively. In total the Minister has allocated 21,396,201 euro to County Westmeath for National road expenditure in 2010
