New €200m. Mayo roadway awaits cabinet approval

THE cabinet is expected to sign off on the new €200 million N5 roadway between Turlough and Westport within the coming weeks, The Connaught Telegraph can reveal.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring, confirmed the project is scheduled to come before a meeting of senior government ministers before the end of the month or in early October.

The Westport-based TD said he did not envisage any problems and looked forward to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar attending a sod-turning ceremony soon.

Significant progress has been made in relation to the appointment of the successful tenderer following a competition process and an announcement is imminent.

Once the appointment is made, a schedule can be put in place for a starting date before the end of 2019 or early 2020. Four tenders were submitted to the regional roads design office at Mayo County Council and they were by SIAC/Colas, Wills/BAM, Roadbridge/SISK, and Clonmel Enterprises/SACYR/John Craddock.

Over 100 people will be employed on the 23.7 kilometres road building project, which is expected to take a number of years to complete.

The route stretches from Deerpark East in Westport to the village of Ballyneggin, near Turlough, Castlebar.

Roughan O'Donovan-Faber Maunsell are the consultant engineers for the development.

Minister Ring described the project as arguably the biggest infrastructural development ever undertaken in west Mayo.

He said it will completely transform the landscape of west Mayo and have long-term benefits for the towns of Castlebar and Westport as well as improving road safety.

Mayo County Council has already commissioned a study to establish the most effective ways for the two towns to develop into the future once the roadway is fully completed.

Added Minister Ring:”I see enormous potential in the two towns working closely together with a mutual commercial and economic objective.

“The benefits can be significant in terms of attracting greater investment and jobs in the years ahead.

“It is an aspect I am very excited about and I know I am not alone in that respect.”