'Dangerous' R312 route in Mayo requires attention

THE section of road at Beltra Lake, on the Glenisland Road, is probably the most dangerous in the county, says Councillor Harry Barrett.

There's nothing but a mud barrier to stop you dropping off into the lake below.

Councillor Barrett raised concern about the condition of the road at a municipal meeting, saying in the recent cold snap, one elderly person was left in their car for a few hours when conditions deteriorated.

Councillor Barrett tabled a motion asking the council to carry out an urgent review into a decision to leave the R312, through Glenisland, ungritted on Thursday, November 21. He asked that the review would include a section examining the risks to local residents who were then unable to access the main roads to Castlebar, and that it would also include a funding and staffing commitment to prevent this from happening again.

In a response, he was informed that the route is ordinarily treated. On the evening of November 20, the gritting of treatment routes started at 5 p.m. in response to the forecasted low temperatures. The R312 was gritted as part of this run. An unexpected snowfall began around 7 p.m. around the Castlebar Municipal District, disrupting mobility across the road network. This had not been forecasted by Met Éireann.

Snowplough and gritting trucks were deployed at 5 a.m. on November 21 along treatment routes. The R312 was inaccessible due to snow-laden trees encroaching onto the roadway.

Heavy equipment was deployed on the Thursday afternoon, including bush cutters, grab cutters and chainsaws, to remove fallen trees and clear blockages.

The road was initially opened to a single lane and fully opened by Friday evening.