Mitigation measures aimed at reducing noise pollution on the Athlone relief road must be implemented without delay, local Fianna Fáil Deputy, Robert Troy, stated this week.
Speaking to the Athlone Advertiser, Deputy Troy, noted that Westmeath County Council had informed him that a final report investigating the noise levels for residents living near the relief road was due to be completed shortly.
“Upon seeking an update in this regard, Westmeath County Council has confirmed that a final report is due soon with the intention being to implement proposed mitigation measures. I’m delighted to receive such confirmation from our local authority, a development which I believe is long overdue,” Deputy Troy said.
Those residents living in close proximity to the Athlone relief road continue to endure unacceptably high noise levels, the Deputy added.
“This noise pollution is affecting their lives daily. Residents have waited too long to receive the outcome of this report. Measures aimed at reducing the noise pollution along this route need to be introduced without delay to improve the quality of life for the many people in the houses affected along the route.
“It’s completely unacceptable that this matter has been prolonged for such a period of time. Westmeath County Council instructed a consultant in November of last year to conduct an investigation into the noise levels along a stretch of the M6/N6 at Athlone which was due to be completed by the end of last year, but the impending report reveal will certainly be most welcome by the effected residents,” Deputy Troy stated.
This particular noise pollution issue continues to be problematic for numerous residential locations within close proximity of the relief road and in 2021, a representative group, comprising residents from eight estates, was established.
The aim of the group, chaired by Cllr Aengus O’Rourke, was to participate constructively with the Council and with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII ) to make sure that the very best solutions are found to help us deal with the noise.
Cllr O’Rourke stated at the time of the group’s establishment that there had been a substantial elevation in the noise levels on the relief road with neighbour unable to conduct conversations in their respective back gardens due to the “increased size and capacity of transportation and goods vehicles, along with an increased volume of overall traffic on the bypass, which has added greatly to the noise nuisance coming from the road.”
“Those who do not have this problem will not appreciate the extent to which the noise impacts on the lives and well-being of those living with the daily and nightly non-stop nature of the noise. In recent years, traffic volumes right throughout the night have been increasing in a very noticeable way,” Cllr O’Rourke remarked.
Cllr O’Rourke confirmed that he had received an undertaking from Westmeath County Council and TII, that a full acoustic assessment of all the effected areas along the Westmeath stretch of the Athlone relief road would be conducted.
“For example, road surface treatment, slower speed limits and noise/acoustic barriers, can all be effective ways to reduce the impact of noise on homes, but let us now see what the report reveals and we can go from there. We will feed in to the process at all stages and we are confident that by working together with the various agencies involved, we will achieve the best possible outcomes for all concerned,” Cllr O’Rourke concluded.
