The N52 is a key National Secondary Route, providing a strategic north to south transport link 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. The Scheme aims to address a 3km stretch of the route that is currently below modern safety standards.

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 north 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.

Announcement of the Preferred Route Corridor

Following the completion of a detailed Options Selection process carried out by AtkinsRéalis on behalf of Westmeath County Council, the Blue Route has been identified as the Preferred Route Corridor for the scheme.

The route was selected following a comprehensive Multi-Criteria Analysis which assessed transport, safety, environmental, engineering, economic and social factors. In addition, feedback received from stakeholders, landowners, residents and the wider community during the public consultation process in late 2025 and early 2026 also informed the selection of the Preferred Route Corridor.

Westmeath County Council would like to thank all those who participated in the public consultation process and contributed valuable local knowledge and feedback.

The Preferred Route Corridor emerged as the option that best meets the objectives of the project while providing a balanced outcome across transport, environmental, economic and social criteria.

A map of the Preferred Route Corridor is provided below.

Benefits of the Scheme

The proposed project is expected to deliver a number of significant benefits that will:

• Enhance road safety
• Promote rural sustainability and accessibility
• Improve transport efficiency
• Strengthen regional connectivity
• Align with national and regional policy

Policy Alignment

The scheme is strongly supported by a range of national, regional and local policies, including:

• National Development Plan 2021–2030
• National Planning Framework
• TII National Roads 2040 Strategy
• Eastern and Midland Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES)
• Westmeath County Development Plan 2021–2027

These policies recognise the importance of investing in strategic transport infrastructure to improve safety, accessibility and regional connectivity.

Next Steps

The scheme will now progress to Phase 3 of Transport Infrastructure Ireland’s Project Management Guidelines for National Roads, during which further environmental and ecological assessments, ground investigations, survey works and preliminary design development will be undertaken. Westmeath County Council remains committed to ongoing engagement with affected landowners, stakeholders and the wider community as the project advances through the next stage of its development.

For Further Information

If you have any queries regarding the project, please do not hesitate to get in touch via phone or email below. 

Enquiries to the Westmeath NRO:

Phone: 044 9334250

Email: info@wccprojectoffice.ie

Post: National Roads Office, Culleen Beg, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, N91 T2PE

‌

Updated August 2026