Put Foxford – Ballyvary road back on agenda

A MAYO councillor wants to see the Foxford – Ballyvary road back on the agenda.

Foxford-based Councillor Neil Cruise tabled a notice of motion at the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council requesting the support of colleagues in calling on Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to put the N58 secondary road from Foxford to Ballyvary back on the agenda now that the Cloongullane bridge project has commenced construction.

In addition, he also sought support in calling on TII to add the R321, extending from the junction with the N58 near Ballylahan Bridge to the junction with the N5 near Bohola, to Mayo County Council's strategic regional road works programme, urgently.

Both roads, stated Councillor Cruise, are 'critical' to the development of north and east Mayo.

In a written response from the head of roads ahead of the meeting, Councillor Cruise was told that during 2012 to 2015, the council's National Roads Office progressed the route selection process for the N5/N26/N28 Castlebar to Bohola and Mount Falcon to Swinford road project. A preferred route was selected which included a new off-line route for the N58 between Foxford and Ballyvary.

Following the adoption of the preferred route by the council, the scheme was suspended due to funding restraints. It was agreed to progress the N26 realignment at Cloongullane Bridge as a priority and this project is currently under construction.

TII's current focus, the response continued, is on the delivery of schemes listed for future upgrade in the National Development Plan 2018-2027.

The N5/N26/N58 scheme is not listed on the plan.

TII have, however, made a submission to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform as part of a review of the plan and sought to have this project added to the list.

If successful, there is potential to have this project progressed in the future as funding constraints dictate.

The R321 is a regional road and does not fall within TII's remit.

It will be included in a list of regional roads requiring investment in Mayo, the report stated.