N5 sound barrier near Castlebar won't be raised

A SOUND barrier on a section of the new N5 at Castlebar will not be raised to allay local residents' fears about noise.

A site meeting has been sought with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the Regional Design Office as a result.

The issue at Balloor - where it is proposed to erect a barrier one metre in height - was raised by Councillor Cyril Burke at a Castlebar Municipal District meeting.

He was told the barrier approved in the planning process is the one that is going to be built.

Councillor Burke said it wasn't fair. The people of Balloor would have to live with the noise for the rest of their lives.

The reply wasn't adequate, he said, and his proposal for a site visit was supported by colleagues.

Municipal district head Mr. Iarla Moran explained how the barrier was thrashed out at the oral hearing stage and the outcome was one metre.

The road surface has been changed to one with a lower sound emission, he said.

Councillor Burke said the residents weren't happy, saying when the road is open and the development finished they wouldn't get a hearing at all.