Islandeady residents win battle over road closure

FORK IN THE ROAD Plans to close the main road into Islandeady village have been cut back from three months to three weeks.

Main road into Islandeady will now be closed for just three weeks for N5 works

Edwin McGreal

In what can be viewed as a victory for the local community, the period of closure of the main L1811 road into the village of Islandeady for road works has been dramatically reduced.
There were initial proposals to close the road for nine months before a three month closure was put forward.
Both proposals met with considerable opposition locally, with concerns over the length of the diversions required and safety fears over the roads diverted traffic would have to travel on.
The road in question is the main road through Islandeady village from the existing N5, which includes access to the church, GAA grounds, several business and homes.
The road works are for the new Turlough to Westport N5 road project.
In a considerable u-turn, it was confirmed by Mayo County Council last week that the closure of the L1811 would only be for three weeks, from Monday, June 21 to Monday, July 12.
It comes after months of campaigning by a myriad of local community groups and associations, led by Islandeady Community Council.
“The Islandeady Community Council is satisfied with the proposed three week road closure,” Liam Keaveney, Chairperson of Islandeady Community Council told The Mayo News.
“We appreciate that certain necessary construction works by WillsBam (the firm constructing the new road) have to take place in a safe environment but we are delighted that the local residents and the wider community can go about their busy daily lives with a minimal disruption of three weeks.
“I would like to acknowledge Mayo County Council, who listened to our concerns recently and took on board those concerns when coming to this decision, and the Community Council is very thankful to all the county councillors who gave us their full support.
“Islandeady is currently a community that is growing and expanding with people building or buying in the area, our three primary schools are increasing in student numbers year on year, we have a vibrant and welcoming local GAA club, our thriving Community Centre which is the hub of the community, our local church, new and established local businesses bringing custom and employment into our community and an active Community Council protecting the interests of Islandeady.
“We hope to continue working proactively with Mayo County Council to develop existing and new facilities and amenities in Islandeady for the many possibilities and benefits that this new N5 Road will bring into Islandeady and the local region,” he added.
Castlebar area councillor Ger Deere also welcomed the development.
“I think this is a reasonable solution. I’d like to compliment Islandeady Community Council for their professional and solution-led campaign to reduce the length of the closure of this vital artery into the village,” he said.
Community concerns
The Mayo News met with several community representatives last September where concerns was raised.
Fr Chris Brennan, the priest in the parish, said then that Mayo County Council were ‘completely abandoning’ the community, with many representatives questioning the level of consultation with locals.
Last month, 14 different community groups and organisations signed a letter objecting to plans to close the road from May 31 to August 20 this summer as part of road works for the new N5 Westport to Turlough road.
In the letter, the groups and organisations set forward what they argued were the ‘devastating effects’ the three month closure would have on the community and proposed an alternative solution.  
Among the concerns highlighted in the letter is that the diversion which is being proposed via Derrada is ‘excessive’ and on a ‘narrow single lane roadway’ wholly unsuitable for the volume of traffic due to travel on it. The exit from Derrada onto the N5 is described as ‘extremely dangerous’.
Speaking to The Mayo News about the letter in April, Liam Keaveney said they had engaged an engineer with over 30 years experience working on Irish and European road projects.
“He said that the road only needs to be closed for three weeks most to get the works done, that is if our alternative was ruled out,” Mr Keaveney said.