Mayo blackspot bridge to be replaced in €2.5m. investment

Mayo County Council has issued tenders to the three shortlisted candidates to appoint a contractor for the new Cloongullane Bridge between Swinford and Foxford after getting the go- ahead from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), it has been confirmed.

The council is also working on a Project Appraisal Plan for the N26 Ballina bypass phase one for submission to TII and the Department of Transport during the year.

Former Mayo senator Michelle Mulherin said the council confirmed to her that the closing date for receipt of tenders is mid-June and thereafter it is expected a contractor will be appointed and construction should commence on the new bridge and road realignment at Cloongullane.

She elaborated: “TII have already allocated €2.5m for this project which would enable the commencement of construction this year.

‘I welcome that progress continues even during the Covid-19 shutdown and along with this the work being done by Mayo County Council on the project appraisal plan for Ballina by-pass phase one.

“Providing the plan gets a positive response from TII it is expected there will be funding in 2021 to progress it through the early stages of route selection.

’I have battled many years as a public representative for major upgrading of the N26 which I succeeded in getting on the agenda and in securing funding for notwithstanding it has been beset by environmental designation obstacles.

“We all have a vested interest in ensuring our region succeeds and we must continue to ensure that road and other connectivity projects get the priority they deserve.

“I acknowledge the support of local councillors and in particular Councillor John O’Hara with whom I have worked closely over the years and also the work of Paul Dolan and Paul Hyland, Mayo County Council.

"I also thank Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and former Taoiseach Enda Kenny who supported the case I made to them at critical junctures.”