The N61 is a vital arterial route linking Athlone and the M6 Dublin-Galway motorway to the N5 and N4 national primary routes, and onwards to the major urban centres of Castlebar, Westport and Sligo.

The N61 from Roscommon to Knockcroghery was identified as a priority one scheme in need of attention in the National Secondary Road Needs Study in 2011.

This project will upgrade the route between Ballymurray and Knockcroghery, where the existing road is substandard in terms of horizontal and vertical alignment, cross-section, sightlines and the high number of junctions and accesses.