Roscommon County Councillors will debate a motion put forward by Roscommon Area Fianna Fáil Councillor Orla Leyden which could ultimately see the N61 Road upgraded to National Primary Route status.
The debate will take place at Monday afternoon’s plenary meeting of the Council. The 75km long N61 Road is the main North-South route in County Roscommon and connects the N6 / M6 in Athlone with the N4 at Boyle.
Speaking to RoscommonDaily.com Councillor Orla Leyden said “For economic development to spread to and throughout County Roscommon it is critical that the N61 Athlone to Boyle via Roscommon town is re-classified to National Primary Route status now. Without this we remain on the periphery. We have to seize the opportunity to connect from the M6 in Athlone to the N4 at Boyle. Roscommon needs this reclassification and investment to thrive.
Councillor Leyden concluded by saying “If this Government is serious about promoting a balanced spread of economic development throughout the country then it needs to show us through its actions, and reclassify the N61 to National Primary Route status in 2017.”
An upgrade in status of the N61 would offer greater access to funds for the ongoing schedule of re-alignments and upgrades planned for the route by Roscommon County Council. Last year a section of the road south of Tulsk was closed for surveying, the results of which is to used by the authority as part of an application to Transport Infrastructure Ireland. Archaeological Excavations and Surveys have taken place at Ranelagh, north of Roscommon town along the route of another re-alignment project.
Last December a realigned 2.7km stretch of N61 road between Elphin and Boyle was officially opened.