Four tenders competing for €200m. Mayo road project

FOUR tenders are competing for the construction of the new €200 million N5 roadway between Turlough and Westport.

The submissions to the regional road design office at Mayo County Council have been made by the following entities: 1. SIAC/Colas, 2. Wills/BAM, 3. Roadbridge/SISK, and 4. Clonmel Enterprises/SACYR/John Craddock.

It is expected the successful tenderer will be announced in September with work set to proceed before the end of the year with the creation of over 100 jobs locally.

Minister Michael Ring confirmed Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will attend a sod-turning ceremony in late October/early November.

"It is starting a year ahead of time. I have been meeting with officials of Transport Infrastructure Ireland on a quarterly basis over the past two years to ensure the project proceeds at the earliest possible date.

"Political suggestions that funding is being delayed for the scheme are wide of the mark."

The 23.7 km. route stretches from northwest of Westport in the townland of Deerpark East to a point east of Castlebar in the townland of Ballyneggin.

Roughan O’Donovan-Faber Maunsell are the consultant engineers for the project.

In a statement, local Councillor Cyril Burke said the new road will satisfy the needs of Mayo industrialists who campaigned for years for the upgrading of the route.

He raised Paul Hyland and his team at the regional design officer for their work on the proposal over a long number of years.

"It will change the landscape of Castlebar and Westport dramatically," he added.