Active Travel Scheme is approved for Mayo town
Members of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District have approved plans for new Active Travel works in Westport that are designed to encourage more walking and cycling.
The works on the Newport Road are expected to go to construction in early 2026 and will include a new footpath between Deerpark East and Cedar Hill, a widening of the shared active travel between Pinewoods and King’s Hill, two new raised zebra crossings on the N59, junction tightening at Deerpark East, Pinewoods, King’s Hill, Cedar Hill and Cedar Park; a raised zebra crossing at the King’s Hill junction; upgrade of the existing raised crossing in Pinewoods to a four-metre-wide combined raised zebra crossing; carriageway narrowing along the N59 and in Pinewoods, and associated road markings and signage.
The plans were recommended by Mayo Co Council's senior planner John McMyler in line with council policy to provide the necessary facilities to encourage walking and cycling within the town.
A submission from Uisce Éireann in relation to the planned works confirmed that no new water or wastewater connection is proposed in the area and that the proposed development would have no impact on existing utilities, while a submission from Transport Infrastructure Ireland stated that the proposed development raised no issues.
Welcoming the project, Fine Gael Cllr Peter Flynn said the scheme should go all the way along the Newport Road to the two national schools rather than being done on a piecemeal basis, adding that the whole Active Travel scheme is “just too slow”.
“It has taken four years just to deliver this small piece of infrastructure, motorways are being built faster. There is something seriously wrong here, it is farcical. It is also costing the taxpayer an absolute fortune and, unfortunately some accidents are happening in between the times of the works actually getting done.”
Independent Cllr John O’Malley said the cost for the job was “phenomenal really” but that it was good it would make the access from Pinewoods safer.
"People who moved in there as young people are now older and not as fast or as good behind the wheel and they find it difficult to get out of there.”
In relation to queries around works for the lower end of the Newport Road (closer to the town), councillors were advised that the Holy Trinity National School project will look at the extent of the road up to Horkan’s Hill, which will be worked on once the Deerpark East scheme is in hand.
