Ryan to consider possible relief road for north Longford town

Barrack Street in Granard, the scene of last Sunday's incident

placeholder image — Barrack Street in Granard, the scene of last Sunday's incident

One of Longford's busiest towns could be in line for a relief road to be built to ease increasing traffic levels.

Granard has long been regarded as an urban centre in need of State backed intervention to free up access in and out of the town.

Now, thanks to a call by Cllr PJ Reilly those overtures could well become reality following recent face to face talks with Environment Minister Eamon Ryan.

“I did raise it at a meeting we (councillors) had over the N4 and I suggested about the possibility of a relief road for Granard,” he told the Leader.

Cllr Reilly said his decision was prefaced somewhat by concerns over ongoing funding issues concerning the proposed upgrade of the main N4 between Longford and Mullingar.

“He (Mr Ryan) did say that is what they (government) are looking at in terms of spending money on relief roads in smaller towns.

“He said Granard would be ideal for that and it was because f that I tabled a notice of motion at the last Granard Municipal District meeting to write to TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) for a relief road.”

That letter is also expected to be formally sent to the Transport Minister over the coming days.