Update given on roads programme in West Mayo

The Roads Programme for 2026 is progressing well, members of Westport Belmullet Municipal District were informed at their recent meeting. 

Area engineer Heather Gibbons told councillors that Mayo County Council's roads department is “substantially through the programme” at this stage, with a few Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) roads left to work on.

Cllr Chris Maxwell complimented the council on the “excellent job" of resurfacing the R335 to Murrisk village and thanked all road users for their patience, adding: “We look forward to the Murrisk to Lecanvey section progressing next year.” 

Cllr John O’Malley said the council had opened the water tables along the Ballinrobe Road in Westport the previous week and had “opened a hole in a man’s wall to such a degree that six cattle could have come out onto the public road". He passed around a screenshot of the hole showing wires cut, asking management had they received a complaint about it. The area engineer said it was not the council’s intention to put a hole in the wall and said she would follow up on the matter.

Cllr O’Malley also asked whether any progress was being made on the promised slip road from Westport Industrial Estate because as far as he could tell “nothing has happened” and he wished to know had the contractor pulled out. The area engineer said it was probably commercially sensitive to discuss the situation in public and told Cllr O’Malley she would give him an update after the meeting.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Brendan Mulroy said that the bridge into Burrishoole Abbey on the N59 Newport Road is causing problems at funeral times, asking management: “Can we get something done there please because it is a very busy area, with a lot of camper vans also there in the summer.”

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.