Roads in Mayo

JupiterKid

I was staying in Westport with a friend for a few days away last week and we did a lot of driving - down to Connemara and around West and North Mayo. Some observations:

The N5 from Longford to Westport is much improved, thanks to the Charlestown and Ballaghadereen bypasses. The section from Castlebar to Westport is very poor - overloaded with traffic and narrow and twisty in places. I hear this is to be replaced by a DC - it can't come soon enough IMO.

The N26 from Ballina to Swinford is below par. Narrow and with numerous bends. Needs widening and realigning. Foxford could do with a bypass.

The R roads are generally ok - the bit between Westport and Newport is especially good in places where it's been recently improved. The surfaces vary a lot - from very smooth to riddled with potholes. Usually well lined and signed.

Overall, roads are OK but could do with a good bit of improving.

newtown13

Overall, the road between westport and castlebar is a significant project likely to go ahead pretty soon.
The N26 into Ballina is quite poor. There are plans to remove the worst section called Cloongullane Bridge though im not sure if this is going to happen any time soon. Both Swinford and foxford need a bypass though this is unlikely to happen in the near future.
The N 58 between Ballina and Castlebar/Westport is also very poor.
Regarding the N5/N4; Ballaghaderreen to scramogue is another project on hold at the minute. This would make a very significant difference to the commute to dublin. Some sections of this are lethal especially between Tulsk and Strokestown.
The road between longford and Mullingar badly needs upgrading to motorway as it's way over capacity.

Kristopherus

That D/C to Westport will hardly start before 2020. The landowners whose land it will go through have'nt even been paid ye.t Nobody seems to be in any great hurry to progress that project at all imo.

Oscar Bravo

"The road between Longford and Mullingar badly needs upgrading to motorway as it's way over capacity."
I 100 percent agree with this. Castlebar to Longford is not a bad drive nowadays but that section after Longford is where everything slows down

irishgeo

JupiterKid wrote: »

I was staying in Westport with a friend for a few days away last week and we did a lot of driving - down to Connemara and around West and North Mayo. Some observations:

The N5 from Longford to Westport is much improved, thanks to the Charlestown and Ballaghadereen bypasses. The section from Castlebar to Westport is very poor - overloaded with traffic and narrow and twisty in places. I hear this is to be replaced by a DC - it can't come soon enough IMO.

The N26 from Ballina to Swinford is below par. Narrow and with numerous bends. Needs widening and realigning. Foxford could do with a bypass.

The R roads are generally ok - the bit between Westport and Newport is especially good in places where it's been recently improved. The surfaces vary a lot - from very smooth to riddled with potholes. Usually well lined and signed.

Overall, roads are OK but could do with a good bit of improving.

The bit between Westport and Newport is a national secondary road not an R Road. The R Road is Castlebar to Newport Road.

marno21

The N5 Westport-Turlough DC will start this side of mid 2019. No more specific date than that yet.

The N26 realignment at Cloongullane bridge will start hopefully before the end of 2018. Desperately needed small scheme. The N26/N58 upgrade south of the improvements in 2006 near Ballina will not start before 2025.

The N4 Mullingar-Longford DC is also suspended, no proposed start date as of yet.

The Rossow Bends realignment of the N59 near Newport recently completed, two further sections either side of Newport are to be progressed in 2017.

nuac

marno21 wrote: »

The N5 Westport-Turlough DC will start this side of mid 2019. No more specific date than that yet.

The N26 realignment at Cloongullane bridge will start hopefully before the end of 2018. Desperately needed small scheme. The N26/N58 upgrade south of the improvements in 2006 near Ballina will not start before 2025.

The N4 Mullingar-Longford DC is also suspended, no proposed start date as of yet.

The Rossow Bends realignment of the N59 near Newport recently completed, two further sections either side of Newport are to be progressed in 2017.

Any more recent news on Westport - Turlough?
btw thanks for all your info on these projects

marno21

nuac wrote: »

Any more recent news on Westport - Turlough?
btw thanks for all your info on these projects

I should be shot for my optimism

Tenders have been returned for Westport-Turlough and the current schedule is for the wining tender to be announced in September and work to get underway in Q4.

Cloongullane Bridge will start in 2020. Few delays in planning with that one