Councillors warn of fatality due to controversial road diversion

The chief executive of Mayo County Council has been called on to immediately deal with a dangerous traffic situation at Straide following the closure of the N58 for the replacement of a bridge in Straide.

A notice of motion on the matter was submitted to the September meeting of Mayo County Council by Cllr Michael Kilcoyne, who said the road being used as a diversion, the R321, is far too narrow for two cars to pass and it is causing serious problems for local people. The diversion takes motorists from Ballylahan Bridge to the N5 near Bohola. It has led to significant disruption for traffic travelling from Ballina to Castlebar.

Cllr Kilcoyne acknowledged that some laybys had been put in for cars to pull in and out, but said the diversion was unacceptably narrow, adding: “It is a miracle there hasn’t been an accident there.” 

He asked how it could be that no plans or provisions were put in place in advance of the diversion, or that no public information was provided to advise people they would have to take detours for hospital appointments and other important engagements.

Cllr Neil Cruise supported the motion, saying people are travelling at "huge speeds" along the R321.

"I don’t know if it is a fit diversion," he said, noting there are overhanging trees along the route “that really need to be dealt with as a matter of urgency”.

Cllr Cruise said there had already been a bad traffic accident the previous Monday going over towards Bohola, “causing more mayhem on that road”. He asked whether the roadworks could be carried out on a 24-hour basis over two twelve-hour shifts to get the project completed before the expected finish date in December.

Cllr Blackie Gavin said there had been a lot of disruption and many residents were angry about the works.

“It is a PR disaster for Mayo County Council that no meeting was called in Straide Community Centre and that people were not advised of what would happen. All these laybys should have been put in place before the job even started. It is a pure disaster this will be going on until December. I agree staff should be doubled up and for them to work day and night to get the job done and the road opened.” 

Cllr Patsy O’Brien supported the motion, saying that every councillor had been contacted about the situation and recalling that “one time roads would never be blocked for such projects". 

Cllr Marie Therese Duffy said a huge number of people were being impacted and agreed that work shifts should be “doubled up to get the work done much sooner, as the evenings are getting darker and everyone is running and racing".

Cllr Ger Deere agreed it was “a PR disaster”, saying there should have been a lot more planning and preparation done in advance and trees cut so that trucks would not be hitting them.

“We have an awful lot to learn from this. When you come to the N5 junction now it is a total nightmare to get out. There is an accident there every week because people have been so long in the queue they then take a chance. They are using byroads that are not fit for purpose to get out onto N5 - the whole thing needs to be looked at because there will certainly be a fatality if the work is not speeded up.” 

Director of Services David Mellett acknowledged the disruption, noting that over 6,000 vehicles a day travel along the N58 route, adding: “But it entails the demolition of a substantial structure, it is over €1m of work and is in a very sensitive area in terms of the environment and National Parks and Wildlife.” 

He said that services for broadband and electricity also had to be put in place before construction could even begin, adding that it would not have been possible to get the job done while keeping the road open.

He said hedge cutting had been carried out along the R321, improved visibility created and advance warning signs were also put in. 

“We now have preferred driving route signs in place but we cannot stop people using other local roads. Also, we have to put in a safe allowable period for the new bridge to be built. The December date we have is the allowable programme run-time. They are well on target, and we are very hopeful it will be completed even before this date.” 

He added that the council team had engaged with local businesses and residents, as well as the nearby Davitt Museum, prior to the project and that the roadworks had been advertised.

"But I take on board we could have communicated with the municipal districts on the detail around this and will work on that going forward.”

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.