COMMUNITY NOTES: CLAREMORRIS - WESTERN PEOPLE (AUGUST 5 EDITION)
After years of lobbying, Cllr Richard Finn has welcomed the approval of a long-awaited infrastructure project that will see the replacement of the Bekan Bridge on the N60 between Claremorris and Ballyhaunis.
The structure, long considered a blackspot due to its misaligned approaches and repeated collisions, will be replaced as part of a road realignment scheme proposed by Mayo County Council and supported by members of the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District. Debris has reportedly fallen from the bridge on multiple occasions, prompting concern for motorists’ safety.
Councillors were informed that a public consultation on the project had received just one submission, from a local landowner. The concerns raised are being addressed as part of the planning process.
The council will now move to complete a technical approval process with Irish Rail. If funding is secured, construction could begin as early as next year, though 2027 has been given as the latest likely start date.
Cllr Finn, an Independent councillor, said the project had been under discussion for many years and that its approval marks a significant step forward for road safety in the area.
“Many people have come into contact with the parapet walls there,” he said. “The damage to vehicles has been considerable over time. This will make a real difference.”
He also acknowledged the contributions of officials who helped progress the scheme. “I have been pressing the TII and Mayo County Council for a resolution here for many years,” he said. “I want to thank Paul Dolan, Head of Roads; Conrad Harley, Area Engineer; Padraig Flanagan, Area Manager, and the engineers at Irish Rail for their work in getting the project to this stage.”
The planned works, detailed in a report from Senior Planner John McMyler, involve constructing a new rail overbridge and approximately 700 metres of road realignment. Both approaches to the bridge will be reconfigured to improve visibility and reduce the risk of accidents. The existing sharp bends and frequently damaged vehicle restraint systems will be addressed through the redesign.
