A new midlands bypass will spare thousands of motorists the arduous journey through the congested town of Mullingar.
The 4.9km N52 Mullingar bypass was yesterday officially opened by Pat The Cope Gallagher, Minister of State for Transport.
The bypass will mean a reduction of up to 20 minutes on daily journey times from Drogheda and Dundalk to the south, and should make life easier for Mullingar residents who have grown accustomed to extremely high levels of traffic.
It involves four roundabouts and two bridges, one over the main Dublin-Sligo railway line and the other over the Royal Canal.
"It will provide more reliable journey times," a spokesperson for Westmeath County Council said. "The bypass will improve the environment and facilitate commercial and industrial activity in Mullingar and make the town a safer place to shop, work and live in. The bypass also provides access to the new IDA business and technology park at Ardmore, Mullingar."
Westmeath County Council engaged Noel Regan and Sons (Plant Hire) Ltd to construct the bypass in November 2004, and the project was completed inside the 21-month deadline.
It was was funded under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 and is part of a long-term plan to improve general north-south access on the N52.