Longford's Ballinalee Road saga akin to century long construction of Spanish cathedral
Frustration at the lack of progress with work on the Ballinalee Road manifested itself at the December meeting of Longford County Council with one local representative saying the impasse has resulted in “a crippling” of local business.
Cllr Gerry Hagan (FG) urged the local authority into action on the issue: “I would ask that for the last days in the run up to Christmas that the two lanes be opened up. This has to be done with immediate effect. We have crippled businesses in Longford with that road in the last eight months. We are heading into our ninth month.
“There will be a lot of masses over the Christmas in the Cathedral, this is an awful disaster. Someone needs to talk to the contractors to make sure it is opened up. We can't have people waiting up to eight minutes at the lights,” he said at the December meeting of the council.
Responding, Samantha Healy, Director of Services for Infrastructure, Housing and Innovation, said discussions were taking place: “We are working with the contractor to see about getting the final section finished out so that the traffic management can be removed. That is dependent on the weather. If the forecast is that the weather improves then hopefully it can be finished. We will continue to work on that.”
Ms Healey said the nature of the work to be undertaken could not be completed until the weather improves.
Cllr Seamus Butler (FF) said the laboured progress on the road was reminiscent of the building of La Sagrada Familia in Barcolona, the cathedral under construction since 1882.
At the start of November Longford Municipal District members were given an assurance that roadworks would be finished by the end of that month.
At the time Cllr Hagan said: “I don't know how many proposed finish dates we have been given over the past 12 months,” he reflected the frustration of may motorists saying: “I don't know if the contractor is trying to get into the Guinness Book of Records for the longest time to take to complete 250 metres of road. It beggars belief for me.”
The proposed development consists of a range of measures for the thoroughfare. This includes street improvement works between the junction of Ard Michael estate and the N63/N4 junction.
The proposed works also include the a cycle track and footpath within the existing verges, junction tightening works, a new controlled pedestrian and cycle crossing point, the planting of native hedge screening and trees, provision of upgraded street lighting, road signage and markings, landscaping, and all ancillary site works along the N63, Ballinalee Road, Longford Town.