Battery Road in Longford town ‘a nightmare’ and has motorists 'hearts broken'

Longford's Battery Road was described as “a nightmare” and has the “hearts broken” of motorists, members of the Longford Municipal District were told at the April meeting of the authority.

MD Cathaoirleach, Martin Monaghan, raised the issue and asked the executive for details of how long the work will continue: “Someone from Active Travel needs to come in here and tell us what is going on.”

The Fianna Fail elected representative said it was a major talking point amongst the public: “All of the councillors here have been contacted by people who have had their hearts broken by the delays caused by the work.”

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Cllr Monaghan said the elected members need to know a timeline for completion: “We need to talk to someone to find out what's going on.”

The Battery Road has been subject to resurfacing works since August of last year. The works are part of the National Sustainable Mobility Policy 'Pathfinder' scheme programme and are fully funded by the National Transport Authority.

That scheme will see €2.6 million spent on rehabilitation works of the Battery Road surface, which stretches from the Retail Park Roundabout for approximately 700 metres ending between St Albans and Longford Garda Station.

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The project also included the installation of traffic lights at the Lisbrack Road junction, the construction of right turning lanes at the entrance to Abbeycartron Lane and the Demesne, installation of new public lighting, as well as the creation of cycle tracks and footpaths on both sides of the road.

Currently, the traffic management for the duration of the project involves a combination of lane narrowing, stop / go systems and temporary traffic lights.

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