Missing link to Mayo-Dublin road connection to be built at cost of €450m.

The N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge Road project is progressing to the construction phase.

The scheme, signed off at today's cabinet meeting, will, when completed, greatly improve the standard of the road between Mayo and Dublin with the missing link in the infrastructure being finally put in place.

Senator Lisa Chambers confirmed the news to The Connaught Telegraph, and said it will be a significant boost for the region.

Senator Chambers said: "The approval of this scheme is a hugely positive development and will dramatically improve a section of road that has been long overdue significant investment.

"Once complete, it will improve access to the entire north-west region and will not only make the local towns and villages across the scheme more attractive places to live but will also improve safety for all road users and benefit road users by improving overall journey times and reduce travel costs."

Her party colleague, Minister Dara Calleary, has expressed his delight that the Government has approved the final business case for the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramrogue project following a meeting of the Cabinet today.

He said: “The Cabinet has authorised Roscommon County Council, under the direction of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, to enter into a contract for the construction works of the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramrogue project to commence this year.

“This is really welcome news for Mayo and for the west,” he said.

“The overall 134km N5 corridor between Westport and Longford serves a large geographical area and provides a strategic function in terms of connecting the western region of Ireland to the midlands and the east of the country.

"At a local level, the corridor provides access to employment, education and healthcare, in and between the counties of Mayo, Roscommon and Longford. It provides access to Ireland West Airport Knock, while also serving road based public transport services.

“Working with colleagues in Mayo and Roscommon I have campaigned for this project for a number of years - bypassing Frenchpark, Bellangare, Tulsk and Strokestown, the new 34km road is of huge significance to Mayo, making our county much more accessible, reducing journey times to Dublin and the East Coast and making Mayo a much more attractive option for industry.

"It was a huge blow when the original project fell victim to the collapse of Roadbridge in early 2022 - I am delighted that construction can now get under way and want to acknowledge the efforts of Roscommon County Council and my Oireachtas colleague Senator Eugene Murphy in getting it to this point,” he added.

In a statement, Deputy Alan Dillon said this major project involves the construction of approximately 34km of new single carriageway road that will extend from the western end of the existing N5 Ballaghaderreen Bypass to the townland of Scramoge in County Roscommon, bypassing the towns and villages of Frenchpark, Bellanagare, Tulsk and Strokestown.

It will provide long-term economic benefits to the region, improving connectivity to Ireland West Airport at Knock.

By completing the missing links in the N5 corridor it will improve access to the west and northwest.

The new route will also make the towns and villages it serves more attractive places to live, work and shop by diverting heavy traffic, trucks and other heavy goods vehicles out of their centres.

Deputy Dillon said: “The estimated total scheme cost of the N5 project is more than €450 million and it will take up to four years to complete.”

He said provision will also be made for pedestrian and cyclist facilities where the route meets access points to some of the towns along the route.

“The government remains committed to funding this project due to the road safety concerns surrounding the route.

"Roughly half of the existing route has a collision rate above the national average for such roads, with significant sections having a rate twice the national average.”

Deputy Dillon said: “The removal of approx. 70 percent of traffic from the existing N5 corridor will improve safety, air quality and noise, thereby creating a more attractive route for active travel.

"It will also create opportunities for enhanced physical activity within and between the communities of Strokestown, Tulsk, Bellanagare, Frenchpark, along with the tourism potential of the Candidate UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Rathcroghan Archaeological complex.

‘I am delighted that one of the main benefits in Mayo will be improved connectivity to Ireland West Airport. However, we now need to progress on the N17 Knock to Collooney project as well as further investment in our rail infrastructure, including the Western Rail Corridor if we are to be serious about regional balanced development.”

Deputy Michael Ring said: This project will now progress to the construction phase.

"The project involves the construction of approximately 34km of new single carriageway road that will extend from the western end of the existing N5 Ballaghaderreen Bypass to the townland of Scramoge in County Roscommon, bypassing the towns and villages of Frenchpark, Bellanagare, Tulsk and Strokestown”.

“Provision will also be made for pedestrian and cyclist facilities where the route meets access points to some of the towns along the route.

"The estimated total scheme cost of the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge Road Project is more than €450million and it will take up to four years to complete."

Deputy Michael Ring continued: “The new estimate for the project has increased due to inflationary pressures alongside rising costs of construction materials and elevated levels of shipping and logistic costs.

"The government remains committed to funding this project due to the road safety concerns surrounding the route.

"Roughly half of the existing route has a collision rate above the national average for such roads, with significant sections having a rate twice the national average”.

“The Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge project will replace one of the most treacherous sections of primary road in the country.

"By completing the missing links in the N5 corridor it will improve access to the west and northwest. The new route will also make the towns and villages it serves more attractive places to live, work and shop by diverting heavy traffic, trucks and other heavy goods vehicles out of their centres” concluded Deputy Michael Ring.