Mayo councillor asks for N59 upgrade to be completed in one final phase

A WEST Mayo councillor has asked that the final two phases of the N59 road upgrade from Newport to Mulranny are completed together to avoid continued disruptions.

The first phase of the upgrade of 5.1km of roadway from Newport to Derradda commenced in March 2025 with the construction period expected to continue for another two years.

A presentation on the project was presented to members of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District by Paul Hyland, Senior Executive Engineer with the Mayo National Roads Office, who explained that 5 percent of the €32 million project has been completed to date.

Mr Hyland told the councillors that it is anticipated the contracts for phase two from Derradda to Newfield will be awarded after the first phase is completed and this will be followed by the final phase from Newfield to Mulranny.

The total upgrade of the N59 to Mulranny is expected to take up to six years before it is completed, Mr Hyland outlined.

Achill councillor Paul McNamara welcomed the progress being made on the development but asked if Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) would consider merging phase two and three together to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.

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“If we go to a third phase we are going to have around six or seven years of disruption along the N59. We appear to be awash with money at department level so could we include the third phase at phase two?

“Take into consideration the disruption that it will cause to the people who travel that road on a daily basis for work. I can't see what it can't be done. If we are looking at eight years of work along the N59 with disruptions it is a long time and I think phase should be roped into phase two,” he said.

In response, Mr Hyland said they have monthly meetings with TII and he will raise the proposition with them.

“We did raise it with the TII but it comes down to finances and TII's funding profile. We don't have certainty to be able to give that kind of commitment but we meet on a monthly basis and I will raise it with them,” he said.

Independent councillor John O'Malley also raised concerns brought to him by residents who live close to where the work is ongoing. 

He said residents outside Newport have asked for an embankment between them and the N59 to remain as it acts as a sound barrier while a farmer expressed concern that a roadway to his land directly opposite his main farm entrance is to be moved by 20 feet.

Cllr O'Malley said that moving it will cause difficulty when moving cattle from his main farm to the field and asked for it to remain in situ.

Mr Hyland said that he will raise the two matters with the attention of the engineers on site.