Midlands Infrastructure Near-misses Article

veryangryman

Very good article this week in Westmeath Indo about things that never quite got off the ground in midlands infrastructure

http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/news/roundup/articles/2009/07/15/389569-what-happened-the-fruits-of-the-celtic-tiger-in-athlone/

road_high

Good article, well researched.
Though from a roads point of view I don't see the merit of the new Athloe-Mullingar road; there's now a new M6 and upgraded N52 link. I don't see the need therefore, seems like a luxury item in a way.

veryangryman

mfitzy wrote: »

Good article, well researched.
Though from a roads point of view I don't see the merit of the new Athloe-Mullingar road; there's now a new M6 and upgraded N52 link. I don't see the need therefore, seems like a luxury item in a way.

Meh..The dream of the midlands gateway towns being properly connected is over with statements like that.

Direct connections between all 3 (perhaps by 2+2 roads or similar) would be awesome for development in the region. Yes we cannot afford it now, but i think thats what should have been done years back. I would not allow politicians to pull wool over our eyes and say that the M6 is of use to Mullingar travellers. Most people going Ath-Mullingar still use the shoddy R390 as it is less mileage.

road_high

veryangryman wrote: »

Meh..The dream of the midlands gateway towns being properly connected is over with statements like that.

Direct connections between all 3 (perhaps by 2+2 roads or similar) would be awesome for development in the region. Yes we cannot afford it now, but i think thats what should have been done years back. I would not allow politicians to pull wool over our eyes and say that the M6 is of use to Mullingar travellers. Most people going Ath-Mullingar still use the shoddy R390 as it is less mileage.

We certainly cannot afford dual carriageways/all new roads between Midland towns of 15 or 20k people. We have to make max use of what we have already i.e. the M6 motorway- Mullingar is no more than 10 or 15 mins from the junction at Rochfortbridge on the N52 which has for the majority also been upgraded at great expense. I fail to see why Athlone could not be signposted this way; any longer disatance would surely be eaten up by faster and more efficient motorway driving.

serfboard

mfitzy wrote: »

any longer disatance would surely be eaten up by faster and more efficient motorway driving.

... and safer, and a hell of a lot more enjoyable to drive than going down some twisty R road and being stuck behind a tractor.