Crash occurs at Achill bridge

A crash has occurred along one of three Achill bridges in Achill which have previously highlighted due to safety concerns. 

No serious injuries occurred after a vehicle collided with the bridge in the Cashel area in the centre of the island. 

The bridge in question is one of three that are located within a short distance of each other along the R319 at the entrance to the village of Cashel. 

Local representative Paul McNamara has previously warned that a fatality would occur at the bridges if remedial action was not taken. 

Speaking at the March meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District, Cllr McNamara said that a number of crashes have occurred at the bridges, which has result in chunks been taken out of them.

The Fianna Fáil representative - who has raised the matter on several occasions - has been told that the bridges are not on Mayo County Council’s priority list of projects. 

“There will be a serious accident in Cashel and somebody will get seriously hurt. It is an 80 km speed limit and two cars crashing at 80 km per hour it is inevitable we will have a fatality. I can guarantee you then we will have a new bridge within 12 months. We will have everyone with a yellow jacket from here to Dublin on the side of the road but it will be too late,” he warned,” he said. 

Responding, Padraig Walsh, Head of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District that realignment and widening of the road at the bridges would need to take place and that replacing the bridges would not make them safer.