Providing some form of traffic management at the bottom of Killyon Hill is not at the top of Athlone Town Council’s list of priorities at present, it has emerged.
Speaking at last week’s town council meeting, director of services Barry Kehoe said it was “close to next on the priority list”, but that in the current financial circumstances “some other junctions and schemes are of higher priority”.
These include the provision of traffic lights at the IDA business park on the Dublin Road, which is expected to cost in the region of €800,000 and will include the creation of a short stretch of dual carriageway.
Cllr Paul Hogan was calling on Athlone Town Council to provide a roundabout at the bottom of Killyon Hill, saying that it was “very dangerous” during peak traffic times to come down the hill and try to turn right.
However town engineer Alan Kelly believes the location would benefit more from the provision of traffic signals as they would better serve pedestrians and cyclists.
“It is a matter of design and having the funds to design and construct it,” he said.
Cllr Hogan’s motion was supported by Cllr Sheila Buckley Byrne, who pointed out that a lot of children cross the road at Killyon Hill on their way to school, and that visibility is very poor for motorists exiting from the hill.
