Councillor calls on government to deliver on Mayo roads

Councillor calls on government to deliver on Mayo roads


Anton McNulty

THE head of a delegation which met with the National Roads Authority has called on the Government to finance the main road projects in Mayo.
Cllr Jarlath Munnelly led a delegation from the Roads and Transport SPC of Mayo County Council on a meeting with the NRA to discuss the progress on road schemes in the county. Following the meeting he said the NRA were committed to the delivery of the N26 and the N5 but the schemes depended on finance from the government.
The future progress of the upgrade of the N26 from Ballina to Bohola was dealt a heavy blow earlier this year when An Bord Pleanala refused permission for its development in its current format. The N5 is currently at the planning stage with a dual carriageway proposed from Westport to Bohola, where it is to join up with the N26.
“Government money is what is needed on this road – NRA staff said that they are committed to these two important schemes for Mayo, but will need finances from the minister to advance them.
“I was happy to hear senior officials in the NRA say to us that when the inter-urban motorway network is finished, you cannot pull the shutters down on the national roads programme in Ireland. Yes there is a reduced budget, but there is a lot of work to be done, not just on Mayo, but between Mayo and Dublin along the N5. I can verify that the NRA are ready to advance the N5 and N26 roads, and can do this work, but it is simply a matter of finances from the Minister for Transport. It’s over to you minister,” he said.
The delegation which also included Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council Cllr John Cribbin, County Engineer, Joe Beirne and engineers, Tony McNulty and Noel Burke, and they also received updates on other national projects in Mayo.