N26 on ’long finger’

N26 on ‘long finger’

Áine Ryan

IN A shock development, it has emerged that the National Roads Authority (NRA) has not yet given the go-ahead to prepare contracts for the completion of the second phase of the N26. Fine Gael’s Cllr Michelle Mulherin told The Mayo News last night (Monday) it was now possible that this much-needed piece of infrastructure for north Mayo would not be commenced within the lifetime of this government. 
“The normal procedure is that the CPOs are published and the contract process implemented at the same time. Council engineer, Noel Burke, confirmed indications I had already got at today’s Electoral Area meeting,” said Cllr Mulherin.
She accused Government of ‘underhandedness’, ‘stalling’ and repeatedly putting the project on the ‘long- inger’. Cllr Mulherin referred to reportage in a Sunday newspaper which referred to delays in the roll-out of Transport 21. She said that any delay in delivering the major inter-urban routes – for example from Dublin to Galway – would have a direct impact on  contingent developments, like the N26.
“With our high unemployment statistics, time is of the essence for Ballina, which has the poorest connectivity of any hub town,” she said.
Council engineer, Mr Noel Burke confirmed to The Mayo News that this scenario could lead to a delay in the initiation of the project.
“I understand that the contract documents were not being prepared at the same time as the CPOs [being published]. The delivery of the Charlestown by-pass was expedited because both of these aspects were dealt with simultaneously,” said Mr Burke.
The CPOs for the second phase of the road were published early last month, as well as Environmental Impact Statements (EIS). Objections to the CPOs and submissions on the EIS must be made before November 28 next.