Appraisal for proposed south Mayo bypass to start in new year

AN appraisal of the viability of a bypass for Ballinrobe town will be carried out in the new year. A staff appointment is due to be in place by Christmas to allow this first phase of the project to proceed.

Local councillors were updated on the project at a municipal district meeting by Paul Hyland of the Mayo National Roads Design Office.

Approval was received earlier this year from TII to do a strategic appraisal of the town, but the office did not have capacity to carry it out, he explained. That person should be in place for Christmas and the plan is to carry out the appraisal in the new year.

If that is approved, funding will then be sought to move the project through the various phases, from route option selection to public consultation, environmental assessments and preliminary design, before going for planning permission.

Elected representatives said it was important the position is filled without delay to allow the appraisal happen as a matter of priority.

Councillor Michael Burke said they are 'back at zero' and it would take four to five years at minimum before they would see a sod turned on the project.

In the meantime, traffic congestion in Ballinrobe is 'the biggest disaster', he said.

Councillor Damien Ryan asked that urgency be applied to the project.

Councillor Patsy O'Brien was disappointed that they were right back where they had started, with all the work having been done before to select a route. However the landscape has changed and there are things to be taken into consideration.

Discussions on what to do about traffic in the interim are taking place.