Preferred route for N26 Foxford to Mount Falcon revealed
Members of the public are able to view plans and provide feedback for the N26 project through the council's virtual consultation room. Credit: Mayo County Council.
The emerging preferred route for the N26 Foxford to Mount Falcon road project has been revealed, and the proposed 8.1km route will now go into the next stage of development.
The route was unveiled at a public consultation at the Great National Hotel in Ballina yesterday, Wednesday, August 19, where members of the public could view the plans and provide feedback.
It follows a number of years of assessments, during which five potential route options were considered.
The latest consultation is the third non-statutory public consultation on the project and will remain open until 11pm on Friday, September 4.
The emerging preferred route begins just north of the junction of the N26 and L5358 at Mount Falcon and follows closely alongside the existing N26 through Tonybaun and Rathbaun.
From there, it travels east of the existing N26 near Coolcronaun before turning west towards the Ballina to Foxford railway line at Sraheen.
The route then continues south through Stonehall, west of the existing N26, before turning east again to connect with the existing N26 north of Foxford.
The emerging preferred route is currently shown as a 200-metre-wide corridor to facilitate design development as the project progresses.
The corridor may be refined in certain areas during the next phase as further surveys and investigations are carried out, and engagement continues with landowners and stakeholders. The next phase will also see the project developed to include active travel facilities as part of the design.
The project is now at the end of the second phase of a seven-phase process, with the preferred route option due to be confirmed by Q4 2026.
Between Q4 2026 and 2028, Phase Three, the Design and Environmental Evaluation phase, will take place.
Phase Four, the Statutory Process phase, is due to take place in 2028. Subject to Government approval, a planning submission for the project will then be made.
Members of the public can submit feedback through the project's virtual consultation portal, by email to the National Roads Office at Mayo County Council, or by phone on (094) 906 4321 between 9am and 5pm on weekdays.
Written submissions can also be sent to the Project Engineer for the N26 Foxford to Mount Falcon project at Mayo National Roads Office, Glenpark House, The Mall, Castlebar, Mayo, F23 XF40.
