Mayo councillor demands update on progress of three Achill bridges

Mayo County Council have been accused of 'going from Billy to Jack' in relation to delays in making a funding application to upgrade three bridges on Achill Island.

Fianna Fáil councillor Paul McNamara requested information at the monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District on whether a funding application has been made to upgrade three bridges.

Cllr McNamara had previously been informed that an application for funding to design a project for the upgrade of the R319 road would be made to the Department of Transport in 2025.

The bridges are located within a short distance of each other along the R319 at the entrance to the village of Cashel on Achill Island and have been the scene of a number of traffic accidents and collisions.

At the beginning of the summer, road markings warning traffic to slow down were placed at the approaches to all three bridges but Cllr McNamara said that accidents still occurred.

“Since those markings have gone on the road there have been a number of crashes and it is beyond me how this project cannot be prioritised,” he said.

READ: 'A major breakthrough for Mayo' - Funding for western corridor railway confirmed

Two years ago, Minister Jack Chambers and Minister Dara Calleary both visited the location of the bridges and informed Cllr McNamara that funding will be available if an application is made.

“How it can take two years for a design package and application in front of the department is beyond me. Two of these three bridges are a disaster waiting to happen and I have mentioned it here time and time again. God forbid if anything does happen it won't be from the want of me shouting and trying to get something done.

“To me it is only a matter of time before there is a serious collision there. Like every other serious accident that happens we will see new roads built and the best put in place but it will be too late,” he warned.

Seamus Ó Mongáin, Head of the Municipal District said that he will ask a member of the Roads department of the council to attend the next meeting to give an update.

Cllr McNamara questioned why the answer could not be given to him as he was simply asking if an application had been made.

“It is a simple question to be answered: where is the application at? It has been going from Billy to Jack over the last two and half years and if it has not gone in why hasn't it gone in,” he said.