Sunday, February 16, 2025

No going back on massive N4 diversion – NRA

by Ronan Casey
There is unlikely to be any change to the massive diversion planned for N4 users passing Mullingar in September, despite the 45km diversion attracting major national attention since Topic brought you the story last week.
Topic understands that there is ‘no chance’ that a contra flow traffic system can be put on the N4 while repair works to a tiny bump are undertaken at The Downs on September 15 and 16. The east bound lanes will both be closed on these dates and all eastbound motorists are to be sent from Mullingar to Tyrrellspass on the N52 and then on to Kinnegad via the N6, rejoining the N4 45km later.
The diversion will add at least an hour to journey times and a tenner to fuel bills.
To allow two-way traffic on the westbound lane of the N4 has been suggested as the viable alternative.
However, the Roads Design Office of the NRA told Topic that two-way traffic options are “not really feasible”. These would entail either removing a section of the concrete barrier that runs between the east-bound and westbound lanes, or divert traffic onto the Westbound lanes, using the recently constructed bridge at Thomas Flynn & Sons and the old Junction 15 bridge at ORS/ Mullingar Park Hotel.
The latter option was ruled out because the ramps on and off the dual carriageway are too narrow to accommodate two vehicles at the same time. The former was ruled out on cost grounds.
ONE LANE AT A TIME
John Aherne from the NRA told Topic that it was also not feasible for the contractor to do the works to the two east-bound lanes and road sidings ‘one lane at a time’ because the bump in question spans both lanes and can only be fixed “as one”.
Contractor SIAC attempted this when the €14million Downs Grade Seperation Scheme was being built in 2012 – 2013.
“The contractor tried to do it one lane at a time, keeping the traffic on one lane when the road was being built, but that’s why we have the problem today. They were not able to get the job right,” Mr Aherne confirmed.
The bump is caused by the transition between the carriageway and the banked edge of the carriageway – just at the point where the old Killucan road used to meet the N4.
The slight bump – no bigger than an inch – has caused a minor pooling problem and makes a noise when heavy goods vehicles and speeding cars traverse it. Although not said to be serious, it merits two days of works and the closure of the full east-bound lane from Mullingar to the new Killucan/Thomas Flynn Bridge.
It has emerged that the NRA knew about the ‘bump’ for some time, but as SIAC was in Examinership following financial difficulties, they were not in a position to undertake the remedial works. The new SIAC will meet the cost of the works as they fall in the contract period.
The road was only opened to the public in May 2013 and the closure is embarrassing for all concerned.
PUBLIC SAY
Road users have until next Wednesday, August 27, to let the Council and the NRA know what they feel about the diversion, but many who have contacted Topic were critical that the Council will only accept written submissions and not emails. Some who commented on Topic’s Facebook and Twitter feeds were critical that the Council did not issue any statement, press release or comment on the closures.
Business people along the route as well as commuters are also angry that the first they learned about the closures was in last week’s Topic. Bus Eireann and other public transport companies – as well as dozens of private ones – were also not contacted about the closures. Hauliers and delivery companies were similarly in the dark when contacted by Topic this week.
Our story went nationwide, with The Sun branding Westmeath County Council and the NRA as ‘TARMACMADMEN’ for the diversion the bump has caused. The Irish Independent and Daily Mail as well as RTE’s flagship news programme ‘Morning Ireland’ all covered the story.
To date, the Council and NRA have only placed a small advertisement seeking public submissions in the Irish Independent newspaper.
Mr Aherne of the NRA said this was protocol and declined to comment on the communication delivery of such a major road closure.
EMPLOYERS ANGRY
Major employers on the N4, including Thomas Flynn & Sons and Genesis, are angry. Staff face a two hour round-trip to work whilst farmers delivering grain to Thomas Flynn & Sons at the height of harvest season face a nightmare journey along narrow local roads if they are to avoid the 45km diversion.
Mr Aherne said “local knowledge will help” many of these farmers as an alternative diversion to Killucan can be undertaken via Cloughan on the Delvin Road.
Any person who wishes to object to the closure should lodge their submission to the Transportation Section, County Buildings, Mullingar not later than Wednesday August 27 at 5pm.

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