Crossmolina bypass for 2018

2018 date for Crossmolina bypass

Anna-Marie Flynn

MOTORISTS in north Mayo will have to wait ten years before work begins on the N59, with one councillor even proclaiming he will ‘walk on hands and knees from Ballina to Crossmolina if this actually goes ahead in 2018 as planned’.
At the Ballina Electoral Area Committee meeting held yesterday (Monday), Projects Engineer with the Regional Design Office, Paul Hyland, told councillors it will be 2018 before the Crossmolina to Ballina route will commence.
During a comprehensive presentation, Mr Hyland said four routes were initially considered for the route, but after public consultation, a further option was developed. Under the working title ‘Route E’, a 12.2km road will be developed, consisting of 3.9km northern bypass; 3.6km on-line upgrade and 4.7km off-line upgrade.
Between Ardagh and the Ballina ring-road alone, a total of ten roads will be crossed, with necessity for only one bridge across the River Deel, at Knockadine.
The main N59 between Crossmolina and Ballina is one of the busiest national secondary routes in the county with 5,824 vehicles using it daily during 2007. This fell to 3,230 on the stretch west of Crossmolina. It is expected this figure will hit 7,000 by 2018, with 4,000 using the road daily on the western stretch.
The revised route, which impacts 26 ecological sites, 13 watercourses and 183 cultural heritage sites, will go to public consultation on July 16 and 17 next in Ardagh Community Centre and written submissions will be accepted until August 15.
Mr Hyland refused to give an exact figure in relation to the cost of the project but did say projected figures for 2018, taking inflation into account, had been considered.
Cllr Jarlath Munnelly said while he was glad to see ‘common sense prevailing’, he was not convinced by the 2018 start. “Even though it is ten years away, I will walk on my hands and knees from Ballina to Crossmolina if this actually goes ahead. I will still by in my thirties then so I’ll hopefully still be able. I don’t want to be negative about this and I suppose it is good to have a target time for the programme but we have to be realistic too,” he said.

Link road might be adequate

FOLLOWING a 30-minute presentation from the Regional Design Office, Cllr Johnnie O’Malley said the answer to the problem might lie in an existing road upgrade.
Referring to the presentation, he said he would like to see ‘maximum benefit’ of the existing road network with on-line road developments. In a subsequent notice of motion suggesting the upgrade of an existing link road, the Fianna Fáil councillor said ‘Ballina will be shaped and established by the time 2018 comes around’.
Suggesting the revamp of the route between the N59 Crossmolina Road and N26 Foxford Road, known locally as the Knockleigha Road, Cllr O’Malley said the project could be carried out between Ballina Town Council and Mayo County Council, to put a halt to congestion problems.
Senior Executive Officer, Noel Burke, said he agreed with ‘the broad thrust of the idea’ as a short-term measure. He said it was important in the development of the Crossmolina quarter of the town and he would look into it further with a view to carrying out the project on a phased basis.