Safety review sought on section of N17 in east Mayo
ACTION to address safety on the N17 between Charlestown and Knock has been demanded by a Mayo councillor.
Councillor Deirdre Lawless has tabled a motion calling on Mayo County Council to conduct a safety review on the route with a view to implementing measures such as right turning lanes and road widening to improve safety of this stretch of road, as has been done from Ballindine to Shanvaghera.
There are a number of dangerous junctions and bends that need to be improved for the safety of all road users, she said.
Speaking at the monthly municipal district meeting, the Aontú councillor said they cannot wait for the Knock to Collooney bypass to be delivered, as who knows when that will happen.
There are things they can do to improve safety for all road users, said Councillor Lawless, and she urged that it is vital for this review to take place.
She had the support of her colleagues who highlighted dangers in turning for Aghamore and also at the Kiltimagh junction in Cloonturk where Councillor John Caulfield confirmed it is proposed to move the monument.
There is a plan at design stage from Cloonturk to the cemetery road, which hopefully will be on display soon, he explained.
Kilkelly is complex as it involves moving the bus stops off-road and a relief road to be included there, he added.
Councillor Adrian Forkan said moving the monument to Kilkelly would be fantastic, where people could park up and look at it and give it it due. At the moment at the side of the road there is no place to pull up and it's a death trap junction, which needs to be sorted out.
There was a suggestion that more speed cameras are needed on major roads. Councillor Richard Finn highlighted the success of the camera on the N17, which has made 11,000 detections since the start of the year.
Right-hand turns are the main issue on the route, said Councillor Patsy O'Brien. Anyone sitting on a national road waiting to turn is a sitting duck, he said.
In a written report, David Mellett, director of services, explained that within the wider N17 corridor, the council is currently completing the N17 Claremorris to Knock Junction Safety Improvement Scheme, phase 1, which includes the closure of six junctions, geometric improvements at two locations and the provision of three right-turn lanes.
Phase 2 is also being advanced and includes the closure of the L25116 Garryduff Road junction, the relocation of the Golf Club Road access junction and the construction of an additional right-turn lane on the N17.
With specific reference to the Knock to Charlestown section, a safety improvement scheme is currently being progressed at the N17/R322 junction at Kilkelly. The council will continue to work with TII to assess and prioritise other locations along the route where safety improvements may be warranted, including junction upgrades, right-turn lanes, alignment improvements and other engineering measures, subject to safety assessments, funding availability and TII approval.
In addition to targeted safety schemes, approximately €2 million is being invested on the Knock to Charlestown section during 2026, including the resurfacing of approximately 2.5km of carriageway, renewal of road markings and installation of reflective road studs. These works make an important contribution to road safety by improving skid resistance, visibility and overall driving conditions.
Further sections of the route have also been identified by TII for consideration under its national pavement maintenance programme.
Mayo County Council will continue to engage with TII regarding the identification, assessment and funding of additional road safety improvement measures on the N17 Knock to Charlestown corridor as opportunities arise through national road safety and investment programmes.
* Funded under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme