Positive movement on new Longford car park in recent municipal district meeting

There was a positive reaction from councillors when they received updates on a new car park for Ballymahon and the R392 Ballymahon Pedestrian and Cycle Improvement Scheme at the recent municipal district meeting.

Senior Engineer Paul Newell said they are going to appoint a design team in late January next year to look at proposals for the car park, across from Ballymahon Library, which has been mooted for several years.

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"We have a preliminary design done already but the important part will be the streetscape into the new proposed car park."
Cathaoirleach, Cllr Martin Skelly thanked the council staff for the update.

"It's good to see that there is a plan going forward for Ballymahon, obviously it's so important to county Longford and especially the way Ballymahon is developing.

Cllr Paul Ross said there is a huge amount happening in Longford as he welcomed the news, while Cllr Pat O'Toole said it was great to see a number of massive projects coming to fruition in 2026 and 2027.

Cllr Mick Cahill and Cllr Sean Mimnagh praised the council staff for their work in ensuring projects such as the 'Pobal le Chéile' and the car park continued to be developed.

Brian Kelly, Senior Executive Engineer for the Active Travel Section at Longford County Council, also gave councillors an update on the R392 Ballymahon Pedestrian and Cycle Improvement Scheme.

"It's currently in the detailed design, this is the cycling and pedestrian facilities linking from the Moight Road junction in as far as St Matthew's National School."

"We're drilling into the detailed design at the moment, surveys are underway at the moment and we are engaged with the various companies ESB, Uisce Éireann.

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"The intention then when the detailed design should be nearing completion towards the end of quarter one next year, we would be looking to secure a contractor in the hope that we would be able to start coming into the summer period in 2026.

Mr Kelly said the cost of the project is more than €1 million and the duration will be approximately 10-months.

"It's dependent on the extent of what the detailed design comes out as after that process."