Long-awaited Mayo bypass 'seems to have fallen off the agenda'

COMMUNITY NOTES: FOXFORD - WESTERN PEOPLE (MARCH 24 EDITION)

Cllr Neil Cruise has said that the long-awaited bypass of Foxford “seems to have fallen off the agenda”. He made his comments at the most recent meeting of Mayo County Council where he sought an update on the proposed works on the N26 Mount Falcon to Foxford road and the N58 Foxford to Ballyvary route.

Noting that nobody yet knows where a planned crossing of the River Moy will be made, Cllr Cruise remarked: “We can’t let these projects slip again as they are huge for North Mayo and the county in general in order to connect the three main towns of Ballina, Castlebar and Westport, so I request an update be given to us at every meeting from here on in.”

Additionally, he noted that twelve years on, a plan for the revised N26 pedestrian crossing in Foxford “still isn’t published and really needs to be because every day we see the vagaries of poor design there.”

Outgoing Director of Roads Tom Gilligan agreed that the works were pivotal in providing modern roads to connect the main towns in Mayo and apologised for an earlier commitment to put designs on public display by the end of February, which he said was done in good faith.

Mr Gilligan noted that a fund of €800,000 is available for works on the N58 and N26 and €64,000 for the long-awaited Foxford pedestrian crossing.

“There is €500,000 there for the Foxford transport project in relation to a bypass element around the N58. However, the larger N58 scheme isn’t being proposed and isn’t really on the radar. But the Foxford transport project is the first step, and we will continue to make a case then for the N58.

“I do accept it is a key route as regards connectivity between the large towns, and we want it to be as safe as possible,” the Director of Services added.