There will be a fatality on dual carriageway due to lack of lay-bys

A Westport councillor believes that more lay-bys need to be installed along the N5 Westport to Turlough or there will be a fatality.

Independent Cllr Christy Hyland told last week’s meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District that two people who work for breakdown assistance companies have told him they were nearly killed on the road while doing their job as there is no lay-by or hard shoulder for large sections of the road.

“There’s two lanes each side but there’s absolutely nowhere to pull in. I know we talk about speed and driver behaviour but the driver doesn’t know there is an accident up ahead,” Cllr Hyland said.

Cllr Hyland proposed that they meet with a representative from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to discuss the issue.

“We could have a fatality. Someone from the emergency services told me the same thing, that someone is going to be killed on that dual carriageway.”

Head of the district, Padraic Walsh informed that the reason there is no lay-bys on the N5 is because it is a type 2 dual carriageway.

Fine Gael Cllr Peter Flynn seconded Cllr Hyland’s proposal.

Cllr Flynn also requested an update on the long-awaited safety works on George’s Street in Newport.

The busy street and its notoriously narrow path run from the top of Main Street in the town centre down a steep hill and around a sharp corner onto the main N59 road to Mulranny.

The footpath has made it very difficult for parents and pupils to cross the road over to Newport National School.

Cllr Flynn said it was “crazy” that the works, which were set to begin in January, have not commenced.

“€82,000 has been set aside from TII for the works at George’s Street in Newport. We had talked about getting this started in January. My understanding is that TII are the hold up there, everything has been done from a Mayo County Council side of things. I’m asking for a formal response, preferably for the next meeting but certainly for the next meeting, on why this work hasn’t commenced,” Cllr Flynn said.

“It is absolutely crazy that the money is there and the contractors are ready to rock and roll and yet no work is happening on it.”

Mr Walsh said Mayo County Council are still waiting on TII to approve tender reports, which have been with them since before Christmas.