Work on Achill bridges may not be completed until 2027

It will be at least 2027 before upgrade works to three bridges on Achill Island will be completed.

The matter was raised at the recent meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District where Achill-based Cllr Paul McNamara sought an update on a promised funding application by Mayo Co Council for the works. 

Fianna Fáil Cllr McNamara recalled that council management had told the September meeting that the project would be considered for funding in 2025, and if successful, all three bridges would be done as one package.

Head of the district Seamus O'Mongáin said funding for design will be sought in 2025 and a study by consultants will also be necessary. Planning approval will have to be sought from An Bord Pleanála, meaning it is likely to be the second half of 2026 before any works start "with completion in 2027, subject to departmental funding”.

Commenting that the completion deadline appeared to have gone out by another 18 months, Cllr McNamara said: “Really, my concern on the three bridges is we are going to go through another three years with the existing bridges there. Just two weeks ago, there was another accident. 

"I have raised this matter several times over the last number of years and have had reports from gardaí and motorists, and all that was sent to the Department. Even the Minister for Finance Jack Chambers was on site last April and asked for an application for funding to land on his desk, but that didn’t happen.

“The fact it is now being applied for just for funding to go to design means this dangerous situation could continue for another three years. 

"I am sorry to say but there will be a serious accident and even a fatality, particularly at the first bridge after Ted Lavelle's, because time and again there are accidents there. The problem is not being solved but, in fact, we are going further away from it being solved, with a whole planning situation now being added."

Cllr McNamara asked that temporary measures be put in place.

"I just want to put on the record now how dangerous this is, and in the interim ask that consideration be given for one of those bridges to be reduced to one lane or traffic calming measures to be put in place. I’ve done all I can and all the shouting I can.” 

Head of the district Seamus O'Mongáin said he would bring the matter to the council's roads section to see if works can be done in the interim, adding: “But ultimately the end goal is the three-bridge funding application they have now made.”