Cable-laying works to cause major disruption in Mayo town
The work is set to cause major traffic disruption in Swinford during the second half of 2025.
Swinford will face six months of "considerable disruption" next year when an underground cable is laid through the town.
The North Connacht 110kV Project, which is currently in the handover phase from EirGrid to the ESB, will create a new 60-kilometre circuit in the electricity transmission network from Moy Substation in Ballina to Tonroe Substation in Ballaghaderreen. EirGrid was granted approval by An Bord Pleanála in September 2023 for the project.
Jason Kenna, an EirGrid programme manager, attended a meeting of Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District Council last week where he told councillors that the company has been engaging with landowners, the local authorities in Mayo and Roscommon and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) ahead of the major development works. Swinford will be the point where the cable crosses from the N5 to the N26. Following discussions with the various stakeholders, a decision was taken to lay the cable from the N5 onto the Kilkelly Road and through Davitt Place, Station Road, Circular Rd before reaching the N26.
Paul Doherty, the project manager with the ESB, described it as a "complex project" with work in Swinford expected to happen in the second half of 2025. Full and single-lane road closures will last for about six months.
Cllr Gerry Murray said he expected “considerable disruption” in Swinford and asked Mr Doherty if the work could be carried out at night to lessen the impact.
Cllr Adrian Forkan said there are two schools, a library and a doctor’s surgery on Circular Road and he enquired if the route was finalised.
Mr Doherty said the route is finalised, adding that it would not be the normal practice to do night work "but if there are exceptional circumstances [they] would have to consider that”.
Cllr Neil Cruise described the decision to go under the bridge in Swinford as “baffling”.
“I just cannot understand how going around the town on the left [from the Foxford side of the N26] would not be a better option,” he added.
Mr Doherty said a multitude of routes were considered and this one was identified as the best choice. He assured councillors that while roads will be closed to through traffic, local access will be maintained.
Mr Kenna said various options were discounted due to environmental and constraint issues and he referred to a Brookville Avenue option, which would have led to the closure of Main Street "for weeks on end".
“There is a culvert there so we would not be able to route the underground cable without closing the main road - the N26 that goes down Main Street - to drill underneath it,” he added.
Mr Doherty and Mr Kenna said a community benefit fund of €1.5 million will be provided and they will give regular updates to councillors.
