Bridge works create traffic crux in north Mayo town

MINISTERIAL intervention has been sought to resolve a traffic crux that has arisen with works on the flood relief scheme in Crossmolina.

When works start on the construction of a second bridge over the river, local residents in about 16 homes will be forced to take a nine-kilometre detour into town due to a road closure.

One young person cycles to work, Councillor Michael Loftus told a meeting of Mayo County Council, and there are other people who walk into town.

To resolve matters, the OPW has been asked to look at opening Wilson's Lane. However, he said, head office were saying this was outside the parameters of the scheme.

Councillor Loftus warned that when application is made for a road closing licence, there will be objections, which will delay the flood scheme works. Appealing for a common-sense approach to the matter, he asked the council to make contact with the OPW to consider the Wilson's Lane option, which involves around 150 yards of a route, and which residents on the private lane are happy to allow.

A request was made by the councillor that they write to Minister Kevin 'Boxer’ Moran to extend the scheme to allow this happen.

Around 16 homes are impacted, and Councillor Loftus highlighted difficulties for parents, for example, collecting children from school at 2 and 3 p.m., having to make an 18-kilometre round journey for both pick-ups.

Councillor Marie Therese Duffy supported her colleague, saying Wilson's Lane is a very small stretch and a solution can be found to make residents lives easier.

* Funded under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme