Unlawful quarries on new duel carriageway close

Quarries supplying gravel, sand and stones for the new N6 Dublin to Galway duel-carriageway have closed after it was discovered they were illegal.

It is believed that the quarries were found after local people complained about the high rise in the number of large vehicles travelling on a normally quiet road.

The Kilcock to Kinnegad motorway is due to open on December 12th with this section of the dual
carriageway taking drivers from Athlone to Kinnegad before connecting with the M4 at Kinnegad.

Some of the quarries which closed down were providing material for the road building and it is likely that
there will be more closures in the coming days. Westmeath County Council has confirmed that the two sites did not have proper planning permission. Ascon, the contractors involved in the work, were informed of
their duty to depend on material from authorised sites only.

The development came after the National Parks and Wildlife Service visited the quarries and ordered it
come to an end.