Emerging routes for Cong bypass to be published

Emerging routes for a bypass of Cong village are to be published in 2024.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Damien Ryan said it is welcome news for the South Mayo area.

“Things are moving rather quickly in the right direction. We are at emerging route stage now and that’s a considerable way into the process,” said Cllr Ryan.

Once the emerging routes are published a public consultation process will get underway.

“Things will then move on to the preferred route stage and then an application that will probably have to go before An Bord Pleanala,” said Cllr Ryan.

He estimates that construction will begin in two to three years.

“The distance is short but the cost will be expensive because you are crossing water. But from what I have seen there will be no houses that will have to go. That was the big challenge that you would not have to be looking at the acquisition of any dwelling house. Land fragmentation has been kept to a minimum too,” Cllr Ryan stated.

Meanwhile, an application has been submitted to the Department of Transport for €2 million in funding for the R332 Kilmaine to Foxhall Road for road realignment and significant road works.

While the progress on these road projects will be warmly welcomed in South Mayo, much of the focus locally remains on Ballinrobe town, which continues to experience chronic traffic problems. Indeed, there were more delays during the festive period.

“It wasn’t great, to be honest,” admitted Cllr Ryan.

Gardai had a presence in the town during Christmas week in an effort to ease the situation.

New traffic lights are being implemented in Ballinrobe in January and Cllr Ryan is calling for a second set of lights to be installed at the same time.

“We need the two working in sync,” he remarked.

Discussions are continuing about a Ballinrobe bypass to alleviate the congestion that is blighting the town but the project is unlikely to be delivered in the short to medium term.