Second bypass project for Ballina is in limbo
Traffic congestion has become a major issue in Ballina in recent years.
An application has been submitted to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) for the Ballina Eastern Bypass to be considered for funding in 2027, but councillors have been warned that the Western Bypass remains the priority and TII will not progress both projects at the same time.
The Eastern Bypass would see a 7.5km route running from the Foxford Road near Hollister, a new bridge crossing over the River Moy and linking onto the Sligo Road.
The Western Bypass involves a 2.3km route linking the N26 Foxford-to-Dublin Road with the N59 Crossmolina Road. It is currently at stage three of a seven-stage process.
The topic was raised at the October meeting of the Ballina Municipal District by Cllr John O’Hara, who said the route for the Eastern Bypass had been sterilised for the past 30 years, yet nothing had been done with it.
He said “on every road [in Ballina] there is a backlog of traffic” and has previously warned on multiple occasions that worsening congestion is deterring people from coming into the town and harming local businesses.
Cllr O’Hara explained that Director of Services for Roads David Mellett told him that when representatives from Mayo County Council next meet with TII in Dublin, they will make a case to get the Eastern Bypass onto the funding programme for 2027. He made a plea to anyone from the council attending the meeting to “make a strong case”.
“I'd like to see Minister [Dara] Calleary and Senator [Mark] Duffy and anyone at that meeting to go strong for it. When you go up there don’t sit back, keep shouting,” he said.
Cllr Annie May Reape said that she and fellow councillor Marie Therese Duffy would “certainly put up the best fight” when they attend the meeting. Cllr Duffy added that the meeting will include councillors from across Ireland, all fighting for funding for their own areas.
“David Mellett has said that a funding submission has been put in for 2027 for TII National Road Allocation. The funding request is submitted to TII for the Eastern Bypass,” she said.â “We will fight for it, but it's going to be one item on a very busy agenda,” she added, saying a one-to-one meeting with TII would be more beneficial in making the case for the Eastern Bypass.
Director of Services Catherine McConnell told councillors that TII’s main focus at the moment was progressing the Western Bypass, which is at a more advanced stage.
“They are continuing to discuss the Eastern Bypass, but the feedback from TII is the Western Bypass is the priority [and] the most we can hope for is money to be allocated to carry out a study [for the Eastern Bypass],” she said.
Ms McConnell warned that TII would not undertake two projects at the same time.
- Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
