McNamara queries ‘ridiculous’ lack of signs for Achill

THE lack of signs for Achill along the new N5 dual carriageway has been called into question by a local representative.

Cllr Paul McNamara said he is ‘baffled’ that there is ‘no sign whatsoever’ for Achill on the €250 million road.

The Fianna Fáil councillor said it was ‘ridiculous’ to have signs for Achill on the N59 but not along the N5, which is currently the only dual carriageway in Mayo.

“I cannot understand how a sign for Achill hasn’t been put up along the route. Achill is the largest island off Ireland. Eighty percent of the traffic is coming from the east coast is coming this way. They are not going into Castlebar, they are coming right through Westport, heading on to Newport and no sign whatever for Achill,” he told the monthly meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District.

Marian McHugh, Senior Executive Engineer, Mayo National Roads, agreed with Cllr McNamara’s sentiments but said that putting signs for Achill along the route would not comply with the existing regulations.

“It’s very hard for me to explain at a tourist meeting that regulation does not allow us put a sign in Westport for Achill, because really that’s what it’s saying,” Cllr McNamara replied.

Cllr Brendan Mulroy supported Cllr McNamara, and pointed out that there was a sign for Wild Nephin National Park on the N5 roundabout but none for Achill.

Paul Dolan, Head of Roads with Mayo County Council, told councillors that the local authority was ‘stuck’ with the TII [Transport Infrastructure Ireland] signing strategy.

Mr Dolan said it was standard protocol for end destinations to be signposted at the start of a route, with other destinations to be added to signs further along.