Safe routes to school projects progressing in west/north Mayo MD

SIX school communities in the Westport-Belmullet Municipal District (MD) are to benefit from Safer Routes to School projects.

In the Westport area, projects are being developed at Brackloon NS, Holy Trinity NS (which will also benefit Scoil Padraig), Murrisk NS and Lankhill NS, along with Carratigue NS and Shraigh NS in north Mayo.

Area councillors received an update from Cathy Mellett of the active travel team at their monthly meeting.

Introducing school zones, a variety of improvements are involved, from traffic calming to improving visibility of schools, speed limit reductions in some areas, a review and tightening of junctions, review of existing and proposed pedestrian crossings, and regularisation of parking facilities.

The Brackloon project is due to go to construction in Q3 2026, with completion next year. It includes junction tightening to slow traffic and introducing a school zone, with signage and marking, and a raised controlled crossing.

It is hoped to have preliminary design for Holy Trinity NS later this year, with construction anticipated to start in Q3/Q4 next year. The school zone will include Scoil Padraig, with the existing pedestrian crossings being reviewed. Two junction upgrades on the N59 are also being proposed.

Preliminary design for the Murrisk project is hoped to be available later this year, with construction starting in Q3/Q4 next year.

Lankill, Carratigue and Shraigh are simpler round 3 projects and will go to tender as part of a package of eight in Mayo, and they should move to construction quicker, hopefully later this year.

Councillor Sean Carey welcomed the schemes for the Belmullet area, saying it is important that children can access their schools by walking or cycling.

The need for a scheme at Louisburgh NS was raised by Councillor Chris Maxwell, who said the school population is growing, but the road is too narrow and the footpath inadequate, and it is a dangerous situation.

* Funded under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme