Emerging Preferred Route Corridor for the N52 Cavestown to Kilrush Road Improvement Scheme
Emerging Preferred Route Corridor for the N52 Cavestown to Kilrush Road Improvement Scheme
The N52 is a key National Secondary Route, providing a vital north to south linkage through the Midlands, connecting the towns of Dundalk, Kells, Mullingar, Tullamore, Birr and Nenagh, and more locally the communities between Mullingar and Clonmellon. The proposed N52 Cavestown to Kilrush Scheme is situated north of Mullingar between the towns of Delvin and Clonmellon. This project seeks to address network deficiencies of approximately 3km of a sub-standard section along the N52 transportation corridor.
Need for the Scheme
The N52 between Mullingar and Delvin has undergone a series of improvement projects in recent years, aimed at enhancing safety and connectivity along this important route, including most recently the N52 Cloghan to Billistown Scheme which was completed in 2020. Further northwards of Delvin, the section between Cavestown and Kilrush has been identified as being below standard.
This section is currently a narrow single carriageway road with poor sightlines, sharp curves, and a special speed limit of 80 km/h due to safety concerns. The alignment does not meet current design standards, particularly for the volume and type of traffic that uses the road daily, especially heavy goods vehicles.
Safety is a significant issue along this route. Between 2020 and 2024, eleven collisions were recorded, which is more than double the national average for similar roads, with particular concern around the S-bend near Ballinlough Castle.
The proposed N52 Cavestown to Kilrush Scheme will enhance road safety, and support accessibility, economic development and long-term growth in the region.
Have your say
Westmeath County Council are planning to host a public consultation on the Emerging Preferred Route Corridor for the N52 Cavestown to Kilrush Scheme, and we invite you to attend our public consultation event which will take place in Clonmellon Community Centre on Wednesday 3rd December 2025 from 3pm to 8pm. Please note that the public consultation period remains open until 14th January 2026.
Your views are important to us and play a key role in shaping the development of the Scheme. We invite you to review the Emerging Preferred Route Corridor and share your feedback through one of the methods outlined below.
Website: Westmeath County Council (WCC) Our Services
Email: info@wccprojectoffice.ie
Post: National Roads Office, Culleen Beg, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, N91 T2PE
Online: Online feedback form
Hardcopy feedback forms will also available at the public consultation event.
Please ensure all feedback is submitted in hardcopy or digitally no later than 14th January 2026.
For Further Information
If you have any further queries or feedback regarding the project, please do not hesitate to get in touch via phone or email below, to arrange an in-person meeting, telephone call or virtual meeting.
We welcome the opportunity to engage with you on the development of this project and look forward to continuing to work with you as the project progresses.
Enquiries to the Westmeath NRO:
Website: Westmeath County Council (WCC) Our Services
Phone: 044 9334250
Email: info@wccprojectoffice.ie
Post: National Roads Office, Culleen Beg, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, N91 T2PE
