LONDON – 6th February 2020 – AECOM, the world’s premier infrastructure firm, has been appointed by Westmeath County Council to advance the planning and design process for the upgrade of the N4 National Primary Route. Situated between Mullingar in County Westmeath and Roosky at the Longford-Leitrim county boundary, the new 50km project is set to improve road safety and increase vehicle capacity along the route. As one of the largest road schemes in Ireland at present, the project will be delivered with partners Roughan & O’Donovan [ROD] as part of the AECOM-ROD Alliance.

The existing route is a single carriageway bypassing several villages, including Newtownforbes, Longford, Edgeworthstown, Rathowen and Ballinalack, and therefore can often cause congestion and delays along the route. However, improving this section of the national infrastructure will provide better connectivity from Dublin to the north west of the country as well as improved access for local road users and other community benefits. This is a strategic priority of the National Planning Framework (Project Ireland 2040).

The improved connectivity and safety provided by an upgrade of the N4 will also contribute to a boost in the country’s economy. Not only will it allow better accessibility to employment, health and education services across the North West region, but it also has the potential to attract further investment opportunities within the region.

Nick Perrin, Technical Director, Roads UK&I at AECOM, said: “At the launch of AECOM’s Ireland Review, which recently took place, the Irish construction industry came together to discuss the role of inclusive and sustainable infrastructure in sustaining economic growth and in meeting people’s needs. This new scheme is a fantastic step to creating further opportunities for communities across the country.

“Providing infrastructure that enables road users to improve their journey time in a safe environment is a key priority for AECOM. Our multidisciplinary team of professionals, including Alliance partners ROD, will bring a breadth of knowledge to this project and help build a legacy for Ireland.”

                                                                                                                                                   

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