2012:614 - N4, The Downs Grade Separation, Newdown and Clongawney, Westmeath

Monitoring took place in advance of final works for N4 The Downs Grade Separation. This comprised monitoring of soil stripping in two areas in the townlands of Newtown and Clongawney, Co. Westmeath, which was carried out between 26 March and 3 April 2012. Monitoring was also carried out for the preservation in situ of sites WM027-001 and WM027-004 in Newtown during May 2012.

The development comprised improvements to the N4 along a 7.5km stretch between McNead’s Bridge junction and the N4/N52 junction at Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. The scheme was primarily concerned with the closure of the existing R156 Killucan Road junction and central reserve opening with the N4 and its replacement with a grade-separated junction and connector road.

Testing and resolution of sites had already been carried out for the scheme by Irish Archaeological Consultancy, with the exception of two areas which were not accessible during the 2011 testing programme (Areas M1 and M2) in the townlands of Newtown and Clongawney (Excavations 2011, No. 614, 11E020). These areas required monitoring and resolution prior to the contractors’ work on site. In addition, the supervision of the preservation in situ of monuments WM027-001 and WM027-004 was required.

Monitoring did not reveal the presence of any archaeological features or deposits and there were no artefacts. The proposals for the preservation in situ of Site 1 (WM027-001) and Site 2 (WM027-004) involved the laying down of terram sheeting across the two areas, upon which was deposited class 6C stone, to a depth of 300mm, and class 2C general embankment fill, to a depth of 700mm. This activity was monitored until the specified depth of 1m at both sites was reached. The work was carried out without any negative impact on the two archaeological sites, both of which are now securely preserved in situ.