Offaly community says time for action on link road funding 'as lives matter'

A PUBLIC meeting to demand action on the long promised link road between Tullamore and Kilbeggan will take place in Durrow community hall on Monday night next, December 4, at 8pm.

A route for the link road was chosen in 2009, and updated in 2022, but still no funding has been allocated for the development even though the project remains part of the National Development Plan.

Locals have now formed a new community development committee whose priority is to see work commence on the road, between the N4 interchange at Kilbeggan and the Tullamore-bypass, without delay.

Responding to a question raised by Deputy Barry Cowen in the Dail earlier this month, Transport Minister Eamonn Ryan stressed the link road remained part of the National Development Plan.

He pointed out that funding had not been made available for the project at present but promised that the link road would be considered for funding in future years.

Speaking to the Tribune in Durrow last week, Charlie Kelliher and Seamus Doyle, of the new community development committee, said an average of 16,548 vehicles use the road on working days, according to a Traffic Infrastructure Ireland (TII) survey earlier this year.

“The community of Durrow are playing Russian roulette every time they approach or cross the N52 . . . . it's an accident or accidents waiting to happen, praying none would be fatal,” said Charlie Kelliher.

James Hogan, Principal of the local national school, said he was afraid someone would be killed on the road due to the volume of traffic and the number of blind corners.

Mr Hogan, whose school has 210 pupils, said he had seen parents and grandparents shaking with fear due to their experiences on the road while dropping children to the school.

Seamus Doyle said the “the fear is exacerbated by the shelving of funds for construction of the link road.”

“Most annoying to the local community is the fact that surveys have been carried out, option routes provided, public consultations and negotiations carried out with landowners on new chosen options resulting in a preferred route being chosen in 2009 only to be withdrawn in 2012, again a preferred route chosen in 2022 only to be shelved for the future,” added Mr Doyle.

Charlie Kelliher said the community in Durrow was not prepared to be ignored on the issue or to put their health and safety at risk on a daily basis.

He said the dangers presented on the N52 were particularly palpable at the High Road junction where the church, the local national school, the graveyard and a number of local residences are located.

“People are literally taking their lives in their hands while attempting to turn right onto the N52 because of the speed and density of traffic,” stressed Mr Kelliher. Motorists have to negotiate the north and south bound lanes to get to the other side which Mr Kelliher said is a nightmare.

In a statement issued to the Tribune this week, the Durrow Community Development Committee extended thanks to the delegation which met with the Minister of State for Transport, Jack Chambers earlier this year and to Deputy Barry Cowen and Cllr Tony McCormack for arranging the meting.

“While the priority is the health and safety of children and adults the Durrow Community Development Committee also recognises that this issue affects the farming and business communities and the development of the monastic site as a tourist destination,” added the statement.

Charlie Kelliher said the Durrow High Cross Committee “had for years engaged with State agencies to allow for the advertising and signposting of the monastic site only to be told that this cannot be done until there is safe access to the site that would involve the implementation of plans to upgrade the road,”

He said the committee was now considering what action to take to impress on the Minister and TII the urgent need to reinstate funding in 2024 to ensure that work commences on the new link road without any further delay.

The committee also acknowledged that Offaly County Council has requested the Government to reinstate funding for the development.