Mayo County Council receive multiple objections to safety upgrade plans in Mayo town

As of Thursday, April 7, members of the public have been invited to submit observations through an online portal facilitated by Mayo County Council.

The proposed traffic calming scheme for Foxford, Mayo, includes upgrades and refurbishment works to the existing pedestrian crossing, as well as footpath and kerbline alterations aimed at tightening junction movements. Additional signage, road markings and associated works also form part of the proposal.

A key aspect of the plan is the proposed removal of the existing right turn from the N58 Main Street onto the N26 Chapel Road. If approved and completed, motorists would no longer be permitted to make this turn.

This element of the proposal has prompted several objections, including one from St Joseph’s Secondary School.

In its submission to the online portal, the school said the proposed changes would place its 500 students and 50 staff in ‘consistent and increased danger’.

“We are completely opposed to the idea of insisting that traffic in Foxford town must cross the N26 at this junction and travel down Providence Road, in order to be able to continue travelling in Swinford or Castlebar directions, respectively,” the school stated.

The school further added an alternative solution, proposing that the existing pedestrian crossing be relocated approximately six to 10 metres further towards the Swinford side. According to the submission, this ‘would allow a car to move out onto the N26 from either side of the junction’.

Local residents have also voiced concerns over the proposals.

Seamus Ryder described the plans as ‘not a sensible or safe option’.

“To make illegal the turn onto the N26 to travel south towards Swinford is a poor solution and will create further problems and additional danger,” he stated.

He also raised concerns about a suggestion to make Providence Road a one-way system.

“A suggestion of making Providence Road into a one-way thoroughfare would also have detrimental effects. This would result in all cars and buses that drop off or collect from the school from the Swinford side, as well as other traffic, having to go to the centre of town to take the right turn at the junction. At this turn, traffic is competing against approaching traffic from the Ballina direction.

“It would certainly result in large tail-backs, which would in turn block up the junction of the Link Road onto the N26, as traffic would not flow successfully,” he further stated.

Last week, Cllr Neil Cruise said he had requested a local public consultation meeting for next week to explain the proposed pedestrian safety measures in Foxford and outline how the proposals were developed.