'Chronic' traffic problems in busy Mayo town 'getting even worse'

A Mayo Oireachtas representative has claimed that 'chronic' traffic problems in Ballina town centre are getting even worse.

Senator Mark Duffy, a resident of the town, stated: "I raise the chronic traffic issues in Ballina some months ago at Oireachtas committee lebvel.

"Unfortunately, the problem has got worse since I did.

"Ballina relies on two bridges built in the mid-1850s. Since then, no other road bridge has been built over the River Moy in north Mayo.

"It is an area that serves over 30,000 people, from west Sligo all the way into north Mayo, and congestion in the town is at a chronic level.

"What will amplify that pressure in the coming months is the fact that works are being carried out on one of the relief roads, which was a back road called Bunnafinglas Road.

"The works are being carried out by EirGrid to lay a new 110 kVA cable from Ballaghaderreen into Ballina. This is going to amplify traffic issues and choke the town.

"The local council has made some minor attempts to improve safety at junctions on Kevin Barry Street, which have caused huge tailbacks beyond the train station.

"I cannot reiterate enough how much we need TII's intervention to move forward with phase two of the Ballina bypass, which involves an eastern bypass over the River Moy. I

"I am conscious of and welcome the progress on phase one, from Foxford Road on to Crossmolina Road, which will allow some partial relief.

"But, in general terms, we are competing against generations of lack of investment."