Kilgallen’s Longford brief

Jack Kilgallen is director of services for roads and transportation with Longford County Council. In an interview with John Loughran, he gave an overview of road construction activities within the county.

Tom Murtagh and Tom Farrell study the proposed Edgeworthstown bypass

As director of services with Longford County Council Jack Kilgallen is responsible for the roads network - the best known of which is the N4 - within the county. However, there is much more to his brief.

Longford County Council is acutely aware of the problems associated with social exclusion brought about as a result of perceived transport infrastructure deficits within the county. To that end, Jack's department is also responsible for researching transportation needs as well as promoting rural transport initiatives within the county.

Just last year the Council published a report, 'Co Longford Rural Transportation Audit - A Needs Assessment" which set out a framework for tackling the problem of social exclusion and how best to improve rural transportation facilities within the county.

To hammer home the point that his department is responsible for much more than just roads, Jack revealed the issuing taxi and hackney licences also falls within his remit. "We are in the business of promoting the safe movement of people and facilitating that in whatever way we can. Roads is just one part of the brief," Jack commented.

"Nowadays there is much more emphasis on people and customer satisfaction. An important part of my job is to satisfy the needs of my customers. Therefore we have to be very conscious of the needs of the people within the administrative boundary of Longford County Council," he added.

The detailed design of the Longford to Carrick-on-Shannon bypass is currently being advanced

While roads is just one part of the brief, it is an important part nevertheless with a budget this year of E14.5 million in 2003. "E6.5 million of that will go on our national primary and secondary roads and E7.5 million will go on our non-national roads. In that respect I am responsible for maintaining and improving the roads network within the county," he elaborated.

Longford County Council's (as with all local authorities) budget is provided on the basis on submitting multi-annual plans to the Department of Environment and other Government agencies. " A few years ago we carried out a detailed study of the national secondary roads within the county. That is the driver for the funding we are now getting, Likewise, we have five-years plans for our non-national roads. These plans are reflected in the funding with receive for non-national roads," Jack commented.

Working in close consultation with the National Roads Authority and the Departments of Environment and Transport, the council is constantly looking at and modifying its plans for the roads network in Longford.

The proposed N4 and N5 Longford bypasses are just two projects currently in the melting pot. "We have chosen the preferred routes for the N4 and N5 Longford bypasses. We are also holding public consultations into the proposed bypass of Edgeworthstown on the N4 and looking at providing an internal relief road in Edgeworthstown. We have also advanced a plan to improve the road from Longford to Edgeworthstown," Jack revealed.

Longford County Council's impressive head office

The N4 bypass, which will dovetail into the existing Longford bypass, will remove traffic congestion from the villages of Netownforbes, Rooskey and Dromod on its way to Carrick-on-Shannon in Co Leitrim. "The detailed design on that route is being advanced as we speak. In this case Leitrim County Council is the lead authority and we have handed over some of our powers to them," he noted.

In the late 1990's the National Roads Authority carried out a national needs survey, which highlighted infrastructure deficits throughout the country. In Longford, the study has become the template for much of its road building activities.

"We have been working closely to the study ever since. It has become the blueprint for this area. However, we do have a level of flexibility, because needs can change," Jack noted.

Two important national secondary roads pass through the county - the N55 Cavan to Athlone route and N63 Longford to Galway road . A team of consultants employed by the council and the National Roads Authority carried out a detailed examination of these routes two years ago.

"One the basis of that examination we prioritised the sections of these routes that were in the greatest need of attention. The focus of attention was on strengthening certain sections of these routes. Massive works have taken place on both routes in the past two years in that respect," he remarked.

All works within the county are project managed by Longford County Council. "We are actively involved in that we project manage all the works. We also use resources within the Roscommon and Donegal regional design offices. We use their resources to help us vet tenders, take on contractors and supervise the works," Jack elaborated.

Longford County Council in many respect is in competition with all the other local authorities when it comes to securing funding. Jack and his team are acutely aware that they are looking for a finite resource and put their best foot forward on behalf of the people of Longford.

"We feel we have a responsibility to fight very hard for our funding. By promoting good relationships with our financiers, we feel we can promote the needs of Longford and be more effective. The funding issue come down to three things - need, precedent, and communications. We put up a very strong case on all fronts."

The local county councillors also have an important role to play in securing funding for the county, according to Jack. "There is competition between counties. We fight our case and so do the councillors. We are all fighting on behalf of the people of Longford."

In his role as director of services, Jack is fulsome in his praise of his small yet dedicated team. "We have a very experienced and hard working team who work well together for the benefit of the people of Longford. I receive great support and encouragement from them."

Looking to the future Jack revealed that Longford County Council is planning three to five years ahead. "In some instances we are looking 20-years ahead but in general we are planning three to five years ahead. We are looking at the best way of improving the roads network in Longford for the people of Longford," he concluded.