Motorists and pedestrians are being advised to continue to exercise caution on the region’s roads and footpaths, despite predictions of a thaw in icy weather conditions over the weekend.
Westmeath County Council and local Gardai are still urging members of the public to only undertake necessary journeys, and to check with www.transport.ie and AA Roadwatch at www.aaireland.ie before travelling.
In its latest update, the council says that while national primary and secondary routes are passable with extreme care, freezing conditions and black ice continue to add to the treacherous conditions on all roads and footpaths.
Particular care is advised on the N4/M4 between Kinnegad and Longford and the N6/M6 between Kinnegad and Athlone. On each of these routes one lane is open in each direction, and motorists should not attempt to overtake other vehicles.
Regional roads are passable with extreme care, and patches of frozen compacted snow and black ice may persist on all roads. Full details of the scheduled gritting routes are available on the council website at www.westmeathcoco.ie
In Athlone and Mullingar, all regional roads and main approach roads have been treated and are open to traffic. The main distributor road network within both towns is also being treated, together with all collector and access roads with steep gradients to housing estates.
Pedestrians should take extra care on footpaths where snow, ice, or black ice is present.
Westmeath County Council is liaising with the Gardai and the HSE on a regular basis, and the Civil Defence are assisting the HSE in providing public heath services to elderly and vulnerable persons.
People in need of urgent assistance, especially the elderly and infirm, should contact the emergency services through 112/ 999.
