Contract signed for €2.1 million upgrade of Mayo road

Mayo County Council signed contracts with Harrington Concrete & Quarries of Kilkelly, Co. Mayo today, Wednesday, April 1 worth €2.1 million for the R332 Kilmaine to Tuam (Foxhall) Phase 2 upgrade scheme following sanctioning from the Department of Transport for the scheme.

Construction is set to commence immediately and will involve realignment and widening for a distance of 1.5km from Cloghans Hill, Eastward to the County boundary. There had previously been criticism of the delay in starting the project. 

Significant elements of work comprise traffic management, site clearance, boundary treatments, utility relocations and accommodation work, with major pavement reconstruction and widening to include shared-use footpaths and cycle-tracks. 

Traffic on the route, linking Mayo and Galway, has doubled since the opening of the N17 Tuam Bypass with average daily traffic now peaking at 2,400 with six per cent being commercial goods vehicles.

The upgrade will serve to enhance strategic connectivity from South Mayo to the M17 Motorway at Tuam and onward to the M6 (Dublin) and M18 (Limerick / Cork) routes.

The scheme has been designed and managed by Mayo County Councils’ Roads Design Office, with ongoing support from the Department of Transport, the project is expected to be completed by December.

Speaking after the contract signing Chief Executive of Mayo County Council, Kevin Kelly said: “The commencement of this Phase of the works on the R332 Kilmaine to Foxhall route is most welcome and I acknowledge the efforts of all concerned in delivering what will be a piece of first-class infrastructure. Upgrade of this road not only represents a major improvement in road safety, but also signifies a massive improvement in connectivity to and from South Mayo which is of enormous benefit for local business, industry and employment.

“I want to acknowledge the support from the Department of Transport in securing this Phase and I want to acknowledge also the assistance and cooperation of the land and property owners along the route.”

Pictured above at the signing of the contracts for the signing of the contract for the R322 Kilmaine to Tuam (Foxhall) Phase 2 upgrade were Front Row: Cllr Damien Ryan, Cllr Michael Burke (Cathaoirleach of Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District), Brian Harrington (Harrington Concrete & Quarries), Paul Hyland (Acting Head of Road, Mayo County Council), Cllr John Caulfied.

Back Row: Cllr Patsy O’Brien, Padraig Flanagan (Head of Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District), Cllr Richard Finn, David Mellett (Director of Services, Infrastructure and Emergency Response, Mayo County Council), John Kearns (Senior Executive Engineer, Road Design, Mayo County Council), Declan O’Connor (Harrington Concrete & Quarries), Damien Glackin (Executive Engineer, Road Design, Mayo County Council), Colin Corrigan (Chief Technician, Road Design, Mayo County Council) and Tommy Duggan (Executive Engineer, Ballinrobe Area Office, Mayo County Council).

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