Key €180m. roadway gets board approval

AN Bord Pleanála has approved the compulsory purchase order in respect of the new €180 million roadway between Turlough and Westport, with a number of modifications. The ruling paves the way for work to commence on the development once funding is put in place. It is expected to take five years to complete.

However, the board has rejected a proposal for the section of the route between Castlebar East and Turlough to be dual carriageway standard at this time. The organisation argued such an upgrading is not adequately justified by traffic and safety considerations, having regard to the environmental impacts arising.

Nicholas Mulcahy, board member, said An Bord Pleanála (APB) shared the concerns of their inspector regarding the impact of the proposed roundabout at Knockranny South on the approach to Westport. Consequently, a planning condition is attached to mitigate the feared impact.

The board noted the input from the residents of Annagh and the views of their inspector regarding the negative visual impact that would arise from the proposed bridge over Lough Lannagh. Stated Mr. Mulcahy: “We considered that the visual and landscape impacts were not acceptable or justified and decided to omit the bridge and require alternative access arrangements.”

The board noted concerns that the development is likely to cause a marginal increase in the emissions of greenhouse gases. “However, we considered that this effect would be justified by the overall benefits of the proposed road development,” said Mr. Mulcahy.

He added: “In deciding not to accept the inspector’s recommendation to seek further information in relation to the severance of routes serving pedestrian and cyclists in parts of the section from Newport Road to Knockranny South in Westport, we felt these design concerns could be addressed by a planning condition.

 

'We shared the reservations in respect of the proposed bridge at Lough Lannagh, which is designed to serve Annagh Road, a minor country lane cul de sac serving a small number of properties.  We considered that the scale of the proposed bridge, comprising a five-span bridge of approximately 120 metres in length, would have a significant negative impact on the landscape at Lough Lannagh.

“Therefore, we concluded that the justification for the bridge was insufficient to render the environmental and landscape impacts acceptable. The board noted the alternative route discussed during the oral hearing and considered that connecting the Annagh Road by the alternative route would be preferable. We considered that this route could be delivered with a significantly reduced environmental impact.

“The board also considered that a number of the proposed roundabouts and, in some cases the associated slip roads, are over designed for the traffic volumes envisaged and would involve environmental impacts without sufficient justification. We therefore attached planning conditions to omit the slip lanes at the Knockranny North and Castlebar East roundabouts and to reduce the diameter of the Knockranny South roundabout.”