Mayo road realignment project delayed due to river crossing concerns

The realignment of part of the notorious Mayo regional road has been delayed after Inland Fisheries Ireland expressed concerns over a river crossing, councillors were informed.

Erris-based councillors expressed frustration at the December monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District after hearing that Inland Fisheries Ireland 'posed a challenge' over a proposed realignment of the R312 near Glenisland.

Head of Roads Conrad Harley stressed that the project has not stopped but the road design office will have to reanalyse how we are going to get the new alignment across the river.

“One [project] at Glenisland involves taking out a bad bend on the road and diverting the road straight through. That has been ongoing and recently we met with Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and they have posed a challenge to us on how the road alignment will deal with the river crossing that's there.

“The project isn't stopped but we have to review and reanalyse how we are going to get the new alignment across the stream. We have a proposed solution and we will be working on that and think it will work. We will have to reduce the river crossing down to a minimum,” he explained.

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The R312, which is approximately 36km in length, is the main road connecting Erris with Castlebar but the condition of the road is considered one of the worst roads in the county with numerous campaigns for it to be upgraded.

Cathoirleach of Mayo County Council, Cllr Sean Carey described the news as 'discouraging' and called for all parties to work together to find a solution.

“It is disencouraging to hear of problems with Inland Fisheries Ireland on that realignment which is a really bad stretch of the road. I hope any problems which are there are ironed out and get moving on that.

“This road is so important to the people of the whole Erris region travelling to Castlebar for hospital appointments and onto Galway. So many people travel on it on a daily basis to work and it is so important and whatever problems the fisheries have there is a way of getting around it and come to some agreement so work can proceed,” he said.

His concerns were echoed by fellow Erris councillor Gerry Coyle who also expressed misgivings regarding the IFI and dealings he had with them in the past. He pointed out that he did a report on the road in 2004 highlighting its poor condition and apart from one project he does not think anything has changed.

Mr Harley also informed councillors that the council were also working to carry out 10km of strengthening work on the road near Bellacorick. He said that they have yet to receive confirmation of how much funding they will receive in 2026 but expect the project to be completed on a phased basis.

Both Cllr Carey and Cllr Coyle agreed that a 10km stretch was not enough and said people living in Erris were not looking for a motorway but for the 'bumps' to be taken out.

Cllr Coyle said it was a disgrace what the people of Erris have to deal with when travelling along the road on a regular basis.

“I would ask anyone from the department to go in the back of that ambulance and strap themselves in and go on that road and they will see how the people have to suffer.

“It is an utter disgrace. Something has got to be done because you will be seasick in a car with all the bumps,” he said.

Mr Harley accepted that it is very frustrating for people using the road and agreed to work with officials in the Castlebar and Ballina Municipal Districts to try to maximise funding for the road.

“It is the only main link between Belmullet and Castlebar and we need to focus on it. The solution is to bring everyone working together to bring every bit of funding from all sides together to maximise how much we get for the road,” he said.