By Ronan Casey
A group of businesspeople who will be severely affected by the proposed closure of the full eastbound lane of the N4 dual carriageway between Mullingar and Kinnegad on September 15 and 16 have taken their concerns direct to the NRA.
They cannot believe that a small bump on the €14m Downs Grade Separation Scheme will result in the closure of both lanes and have suggested the removal of concrete barriers along the route to allow a contra flow system.
Road users have until today (Wednesday) to make their feelings known to the County Council about the closure, which comes a little over a year after the road was opened. Submissions in writing only are being accepted until 5pm.
Tens of thousands of motorists, public transport users, haulage operators and commuters face a 45km diversion from Mullingar to Tyrrellspass and into Kinnegad as works to fix a bump of a few inches get underway. The normal journey from Mullingar to Kinnegad is a little over 17km, taking 15 minutes with traffic. The diversion will add at least an hour to journey times.
CUT OFF
A large amount of N4 traffic would avail of businesses such as The Roadhouse, Genesis/Mullingar Pewter and Thomas Flynn & Sons. Owners of these soon-to-be-isolated businesses gathered for a crisis meeting in The Roadhouse on Monday.
As Topic arrived, the bar and restaurant was busy with a brisk breakfast trade and close to 20 cars and trucks parked outside. Three staff, owner Joe Sheridan and his head chef were kept on their toes serving customers.
Joe told Topic that the majority of custom is passing trade and two days of no trade will be “devastating” to his popular business. He said business had suffered when the median was closed as part of the €14million scheme undertaken by SIAC Construction in 2012. “Things were starting to go well again and then this happens,” he sighed.
He said that in the UK, no stretch of motorway would be allowed to close like this and he, like those around the table on Monday morning, believed something must be looked at.
Thomas Flynn says farmers are in disbelief that the road is being closed at the height of harvest season. “Hundreds would be delivering grain on those days, but none of them want to do such a trek,” he said. “If they go the other diversion that’s being suggested (out the N52, turning at Cloughan and going to Killucan, turning back to the Downs) God help any traffic that’s caught behind them!”
NO NOTIFICATION
All were disappointed that the Council did not consult them or notify them of any proposed closure. As per protocol, they placed a notice in a newspaper – the Irish Independent – last month. The ad tells people opposed to the closure to object by writing only to the Council’s offices in Mount Street, Mullingar.
“In today’s day and age, I can’t see why they wouldn’t even print an email address,” said Tony Collins of Genesis Fine Arts, Mindy Brownes and Mullingar Pewter.
Joe Sheridan of The Roadhouse said “even a letter notifying us would have allowed us time to think. The first we learned of the closure was when we read it in the Topic.”
The state’s bus company, Bus Éireann, had also not been notified and several transport firms did not know of the closure when contacted by Topic.
The trio of businesses meeting at the Roadhouse took the bull by the horns and following the meeting, went direct to the NRA Roads Design Office in Cullion, Mullingar, to express their points of view.
There, they met engineer Ambrose Clarke in what was described as a “cordial meeting”. The traders agreed to send an objection outlining their suggested alternative to the closure.
ROLLING CROWN
Speaking to Topic on Tuesday, Mr Clarke said the problem concerns a “rolling crown” which is designed to run diagonally across the roads, sending surface water both ways off it. The one just before the old Killucan turn-off was “unfortunately constructed lane by lane in bits by SIAC, not as a whole,” said Mr Clarke and this necessitated a full two lane closure to get right. He was keen to stress that SIAC and not the taxpayer are picking up the tab for the works.
The NRA Roads Design Office will not have the final say in the closure of the busy national route. Instead, their team of road experts will only be consulted by the Council’s road section. He said health and safety considerations regarding any possible contra flow routes may rule them out.
The N4 traders were fearful that the western lane might be closed next. Mr Clarke put them at ease on Tuesday, telling Topic he was “not aware of any other works” planned.
