Route branded 'worst road in Mayo'

A notorious Mayo road described by a local councillor as “the worst road in the county” will not see construction begin until 2028 at the earliest, with fears raised that motorists will face the same dangers on the R315 Castlehill section for at least another two years.

Mayo County Council has confirmed that the long-awaited Lahardane to Crossmolina Road Improvement Scheme remains at the design and environmental assessment stage, with construction not anticipated to commence until at least 2028, subject to planning approval, land acquisition and the securing of the necessary funding.

The local authority confirmed that the scheme has received a total of €295,000 in allocations from the Department of Transport between 2022 and 2026, for design development, environmental assessments, surveys, route design and the preparation of planning documentation.

However, no construction funding has yet been sought, with a formal application to the Department of Transport to be made following completion of the statutory planning process.

Mayo County Council said consultants appointed in Q3 2025 are progressing the scheme, with detailed design work substantially advanced and geometric design approximately 90% complete.

They expect to submit the scheme to An Coimisiún Pleanála in Q1 2027.

Councillors had previously been told that construction could begin around that timeframe.

Councillor Michael Loftus, who has repeatedly raised concerns about the condition of the road, said he was disappointed to hear that construction is now not expected until 2028.

“This is consistently the worst road in Mayo,” Councillor Loftus said.

“I’ve been banging on about this road for 20 to 30 years. At least there is a proposal being brought forward now, but I’m disappointed to hear it is 2028 when we were initially told it would be Q1 2027.”

The Ballina Municipal District councillor said the focus must now turn to securing construction funding from the Department of Transport.

“It’s now up to the TDs to ensure that, when the time comes, there is funding there from the Department of Transport to get it done,” he said.

“It means it is going to be another two years, and I have warned that this is what it will be like until it’s done.”

When questioned on whether more immediate remedial works could be carried out on the road while the larger scheme progresses, the Fianna Fáil councillor pointed to diminished road funding.

“I don’t think there is any money to do that,” he said.

“€295,000 would have gone a long way towards improving the road by now instead of going on consultants and paperwork.”

He said the current situation remained unacceptable for motorists using the route.

“I hate going up there; everyone does. You take your life into your own hands,” he said.

OBSTRUCTION

Meanwhile, local woman Sandra Granahan described the daily reality facing drivers using the narrow Castlehill section.

Ms. Granahan said she was travelling to work two weeks ago when she became caught in a major traffic obstruction after a lorry and a car met at one of the narrowest points on the road.

“A lorry had met a car and the car, while trying to get past the lorry at the narrowest gap, had buckled its wheels and they were both facing out onto the middle of the road,” she said.

“There was no other road for people to get by and all the cars had piled up. I was stuck there for about 40 minutes.”

The road is the main route for people attending the hospital in Castlebar and for many who travel to work on a daily basis to the county town from the north of the county.

Ms. Granahan said encounters with larger vehicles remain a frightening experience for motorists.

“If you meet a bus or lorry, it’s terrifying,” she said.

“I’ve often had to help people get into their cars and reverse for them at that spot.”

She said the prospect of another two years before construction begins was extremely frustrating.

“The fact that this will be reality for another two years is a disgrace,” she said.

Virginia Dyra, who was also caught up in the impasse, said the situation will only get worse over the coming weeks.

“School buses will return in September. If you meet anything on that stretch of road, it is frightening. It’s very dangerous, and I cannot understand why improvement works aren’t being sped up before something serious happens,” she said.

Mayo County Council said the Natura Impact Statement for the scheme remains ongoing and will form part of the planning submission to An Coimisiún Pleanála, alongside other environmental reports.

The council said land acquisition has not yet commenced and is expected to progress after the statutory planning process, while tender preparation will take place at a later stage.

The current programme envisages completion of planning and procurement activities during 2027, with construction anticipated to begin in 2028, subject to all approvals being obtained and funding being secured.