New N5 road project approved by cabinet

News that the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge Road Project will progress to the construction phase has been welcomed in Mayo. 

The Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, TD, has announced that the 34km-long N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge Road Project has been approved by Cabinet today (Tuesday).

The project involves the construction of approximately 34km of new single carriageway road that will extend from the western end of the existing N5 Ballaghaderreen Bypass to the townland of Scramoge in County Roscommon, bypassing the towns and villages of Frenchpark, Bellanagare, Tulsk and Strokestown. Provision will also be made for pedestrian and cyclist facilities where the route meets access points to some of the towns along the route. 

The estimated total scheme cost of the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge Road Project is more than €450million and will take up to four years to complete.

The new estimate for the project has increased due to inflationary pressures alongside rising costs of construction materials and elevated levels of shipping and logistic costs.

The Government has committed to funding this project due to the road safety concerns surrounding the route.

Roughly half of the existing route has a collision rate above the national average for such roads, with significant sections having a rate twice the national average.  

Minister Eamon Ryan said the project will replace 'one of the most treacherous sections of primary road in the country'.

The collision rate at the existing N5 is currently twice the national average. 

The original project had fell foul of the collapse of Roadbridge in 2022. 

Minister of State, Darragh Calleary TD said: “Working with colleagues in Mayo and Roscommon I have campaigned for this project for a number of years - bypassing Frenchpark, Bellangare, Tulsk and Strokestown, the new 34km road is of huge significance to Mayo, making our county much more accessible, reducing journey times to Dublin and the East Coast and making Mayo a much more attractive option for industry.

Fine Gael TDs Michael Ring and Deputy Alan Dillon have also welcomed the development, with Deputy Dillon said that it would removed 70 percent of the traffic on the existing route. 

Deputy Dillon also said it would improve connectivity towards Ireland West Airport Knock. He also called for progress on the N17 Knock to Collooney project as well as further investment in rail infrastructure.

Following today's cabinet meeting, Minister Eamon Ryan said: "By completing the missing links in the N5 corridor it will improve access to the west and northwest.  The new route will also make the towns and villages it serves more attractive places to live, work and shop by diverting heavy traffic, trucks and other heavy goods vehicles out of their centres." 

"Decisions to proceed with large infrastructural projects like this are becoming increasingly difficult. Inflationary pressures are pushing up costs to eye-watering amounts. Against this budget pressure, priority will remain on progressing with the development of by-passes around our major towns and proceeding with the major public transport programmes announced that can transport thousands of people quickly and efficiently, so freeing up our road space, particularly in our towns and cities.”

Minister of State for Transport, Jack Chambers, TD, said the new road would 'dramatically' improve road safety as well as reducing journey times and travel costs.