N5 - Westport to Turlough [open to traffic]

Cosmo Kramer · 08-10-2020 4:34pm

With everything that's going on in the world I think they're going a bit overboard with this. Three months road closure isn't the end of the world and certainly not worth threatening to lie in front of machinery over. Yes, it will be annoying, but it's only a temporary issue and not even for that long a period of time. There's bound to be plenty of delays on the N5, N60, N84 and other roads for a while as well but we'll all just have to deal with it.

irishgeo · 08-10-2020 6:37pm

DumbBrunette wrote: »

Islandeady road closure row is heating up again:

https://www.mayonews.ie/news/35932-islandeady-residents-prepared-to-block-roads

Isn't lying in the road going to cause the same disruption that they are protesting against assuming they do it while it's still open.

riddlinrussell · 08-10-2020 6:43pm

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

With everything that's going on in the world I think they're going a bit overboard with this. Three months road closure isn't the end of the world and certainly not worth threatening to lie in front of machinery over. Yes, it will be annoying, but it's only a temporary issue and not even for that long a period of time. There's bound to be plenty of delays on the N5, N60, N84 and other roads for a while as well but we'll all just have to deal with it.

I'm not familiar with the issue specifically, why is it such a major issue? Is this closure going to mean the community are trapped in the area for 3 months with no alternative route out?

serfboard · 08-10-2020 7:09pm

riddlinrussell wrote: »

I'm not familiar with the issue specifically, why is it such a major issue? Is this closure going to mean the community are trapped in the area for 3 months with no alternative route out?

I don't know the details of it either but I suspect that rather than no way out, it will mean long-way-around journeys for some, and maybe even very long-way-around journeys for others.

But I would be interested to know just how long around those journeys are going to be.

DumbBrunette · 09-10-2020 10:27pm

Great pic from Jack Walsh again, looking SW along Castlebar bypass. You can really see the road taking shape.

Edit: More pics here https://www.instagram.com/p/CGGI7E5FUd6/?igshid=lpixwuuc2bxg

Cosmo Kramer · 10-10-2020 8:53am

riddlinrussell wrote: »

I'm not familiar with the issue specifically, why is it such a major issue? Is this closure going to mean the community are trapped in the area for 3 months with no alternative route out?

As I understand it the short detour is a narrow single track road. The long detour involves going in and out of Castlebar, so that would probably be a 15 to 20 minute detour if they want to avoid the single track road. Not ideal obviously, but it is only a temporary measure and they have succeeded in having the closure period reduced from 9 months to 3 months. I think they should have left it at that and called it a win personally.

Cosmo Kramer · 10-10-2020 9:04am

They are really cracking on with the Castlebar section of this. I take it there's no prospect of opening the section around Castlebar from Turlough Road to Westport Road ahead of the rest of the project?

yop · 10-10-2020 9:06am

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

As I understand it the short detour is a narrow single track road. The long detour involves going in and out of Castlebar, so that would probably be a 15 to 20 minute detour if they want to avoid the single track road. Not ideal obviously, but it is only a temporary measure and they have succeeded in having the closure period reduced from 9 months to 3 months. I think they should have left it at that and called it a win personally.

I don't agree with this lying on the road bs tbh.

The route for me to the pitch/community centre is currently 3km and 5 mins.
With the short detour its 14km, 17mins and 10km of that is on single lane road which is to be honest poor. The traffic Volume is going to be big on that road.
The longer route is 19km, 22 mins off peak and about 6km is the single lane road.

I'm lucky as I'll only do it twice a week. But for anyone with kids in the school it's gonna add up.

That said 3 months will bomb so think it just needs to go ahead now and quit the "I'll lie on the road" approach as that's a bit embarrassing.

yop · 10-10-2020 9:21am

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

They are really cracking on with the Castlebar section of this. I take it there's no prospect of opening the section around Castlebar from Turlough Road to Westport Road ahead of the rest of the project?

Didn't they do something like that for the Limerick motorway around crusheen way back. Make Sense but probably some reason why they couldn't.
Have you walked it?

DumbBrunette · 10-10-2020 11:25am

There hasn't been any mention of it that I've heard but it should be possible to open Castlebar west to Castlebar east while the rest of the project is still ongoing.

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

They are really cracking on with the Castlebar section of this. I take it there's no prospect of opening the section around Castlebar from Turlough Road to Westport Road ahead of the rest of the project?

yop · 10-10-2020 7:57pm

DumbBrunette wrote: »

There hasn't been any mention of it that I've heard but it should be possible to open Castlebar west to Castlebar east while the rest of the project is still ongoing.

They've only moved big plant onto Westport side last two weeks.
They have a lot down going to the road at the graveyard in islandeady.
The slowest part will be the lake side and kilbree.

Make a lot of sense to open that side but still doing a lot of quarrying on the first section there near turlough

Cosmo Kramer · 11-10-2020 9:36am

yop wrote: »

Didn't they do something like that for the Limerick motorway around crusheen way back. Make Sense but probably some reason why they couldn't.
Have you walked it?

No, just going off what I can see when passing by it on the various main roads and going off the drone photography.

riddlinrussell · 11-10-2020 1:44pm

yop wrote: »

I don't agree with this lying on the road bs tbh.

The route for me to the pitch/community centre is currently 3km and 5 mins.
With the short detour its 14km, 17mins and 10km of that is on single lane road which is to be honest poor. The traffic Volume is going to be big on that road.
The longer route is 19km, 22 mins off peak and about 6km is the single lane road.

I'm lucky as I'll only do it twice a week. But for anyone with kids in the school it's gonna add up.

That said 3 months will bomb so think it just needs to go ahead now and quit the "I'll lie on the road" approach as that's a bit embarrassing.

Suppose if they can schedule the closure to minimise when it coincides with term time would be a good idea....

yop · 12-10-2020 9:44am

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

No, just going off what I can see when passing by it on the various main roads and going off the drone photography.

Definitely won't be opening it until full road is done.

riddlinrussell wrote: »

Suppose if they can schedule the closure to minimise when it coincides with term time would be a good idea....

I think i read its May. So it will work for school.

irishgeo · 12-10-2020 6:40pm

Is the breaffy road going to an over pass or underpass the rdo website has been redesigned and the plans are gone..

unit 1 · 12-10-2020 6:55pm

Breaffy road is an overpass of the new road, bit of a nuisance can't find the drawings anywhere online since they redid that site.

irishgeo · 12-10-2020 8:07pm

unit 1 wrote: »

Breaffy road is an overpass of the new road, bit of a nuisance can't find the drawings anywhere online since they redid that site.

no wonder the machines are below the level of the current road, they'll be able to tunnel under it soon.

DumbBrunette · 12-10-2020 8:52pm

Great pic again from Jack Walsh drone photography showing the Breaffy road junction. God love the people living in those 2 houses!

https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2742534456073928&id=2224058757921503&set=pcb.2742534539407253&source=49&refid=13&ref=page_internal&__tn__=%2B%3E

Cosmo Kramer · 12-10-2020 9:47pm

Are those houses going to be flattened or are they actually going to continue to live there between the Breaffy Road, the new dual carriageway and the slip road connecting them?!

L1011 · 12-10-2020 9:50pm

CPOed properties would be cleared well before that stage.

unit 1 · 12-10-2020 10:15pm

I think they will be landlocked.
I also think the designers missed a trick here, they could have run that sliproad up to the roundabout at kilkenny cross instead, still great progress being made, its only a 2 year timeframe after all.

Cosmo Kramer · 12-10-2020 11:09pm

Would the property owners be entitled to compensation in a case like that? Being surrounded on all sides by N roads isn't great in terms of noise levels and so on. That's a popular part of Castlebar in terms of property prices etc as well, there's likely to be a serious hit on the value of those houses as a result of this.

Pete_Cavan · 13-10-2020 9:06am

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

Would the property owners be entitled to compensation in a case like that? Being surrounded on all sides by N roads isn't great in terms of noise levels and so on. That's a popular part of Castlebar in terms of property prices etc as well, there's likely to be a serious hit on the value of those houses as a result of this.

I assume they were offered to be bought out at a good price but the owners refused it. I doubt they will get any compensation beyond being paid for any of their land taken and possibly new boundary walls or the like.

Cosmo Kramer · 13-10-2020 9:49am

I think if that happened at my house I'd happily be bought out and just move or build somewhere else nearby to be honest.

UsBus · 13-10-2020 10:11am

unit 1 wrote: »

I think they will be landlocked.
I also think the designers missed a trick here, they could have run that sliproad up to the roundabout at kilkenny cross instead, still great progress being made, its only a 2 year timeframe after all.

There must be a very strong reason for not tying the slip road up to the Kilkenny roundabout. You would be effectively be landlocking all the houses up as far as the roundabout. A secondary road outside their front garden and a new primary slip road along their back wall mightn't have got approval.

PARlance · 13-10-2020 10:19am

UsBus wrote: »

There must be a very strong reason for not tying the slip road up to the Kilkenny roundabout. You would be effectively be landlocking all the houses up as far as the roundabout. A secondary road outside their front garden and a new primary slip road along their back wall mightn't have got approval.

They would be going through an awful lot of houses/estate to run it through to the roundabout. Maybe I'm missing something but I'm not sure why connecting it to the roundabout would be beneficial.

PARlance · 13-10-2020 10:22am

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

I think if that happened at my house I'd happily be bought out and just move or build somewhere else nearby to be honest.

Would all depend on the price I suppose. If they were offered market value then they probably wouldn't get a similar site/house in the area.

I had assumed they would be compensated somewhat. There's an awful lot of stone breaking going on near those houses. It would feel like a long two years with all the disturbances.

Pete_Cavan · 13-10-2020 10:53am

PARlance wrote: »

Would all depend on the price I suppose. If they were offered market value then they probably wouldn't get a similar site/house in the area.

I had assumed they would be compensated somewhat. There's an awful lot of stone breaking going on near those houses. It would feel like a long two years with all the disturbances.

I don't think there is any compensation for noise disturbance, if there was half of Castlebar would have their hands out. Such works is ultimately beneficial for the area and its residents, its short term pain for long term gain.

I don't see how you compensate someone for the road passing close to their house, either it makes the house unlivable in which case you should be bought out and move elsewhere, or you can live with the road there and the money is going straight into your back pocket. If your house gets CPOed, in theory you get market price but in reality it gets inflated and is at the upper end of local similar house prices even if your house is older/in worse condition. You also get compensation because by definition you have been put out.

Pete_Cavan · 13-10-2020 11:05am

PARlance wrote: »

They would be going through an awful lot of houses/estate to run it through to the roundabout. Maybe I'm missing something but I'm not sure why connecting it to the roundabout would be beneficial.

Looking at it on Google maps, tying into the roundabout with the link road being south of the N60 would have made sense. From looking at the image posted above, it looks like multiple houses were demolished for the current arrangement which would not have been the case.

irishgeo · 13-10-2020 1:40pm

Pete_Cavan wrote: »

Looking at it on Google maps, tying into the roundabout with the link road being south of the N60 would have made sense. From looking at the image posted above, it looks like multiple houses were demolished for the current arrangement which would not have been the case.

Only one house was knocked.

unit 1 · 13-10-2020 7:52pm

Pete_Cavan wrote: »

Looking at it on Google maps, tying into the roundabout with the link road being south of the N60 would have made sense. From looking at the image posted above, it looks like multiple houses were demolished for the current arrangement which would not have been the case.

That what I thought, surely a slip onto albeit a small roundabout would have been a better option than a slip onto an already busy road, the slip would also have been further away from the houses.

irishgeo · 13-10-2020 8:47pm

unit 1 wrote: »

That what I thought, surely a slip onto albeit a small roundabout would have been a better option than a slip onto an already busy road, the slip would also have been further away from the houses.

its a fair distance to the roundabout to be honest.

DumbBrunette · 16-10-2020 8:48pm

N84 junction really taking shape:

Link: https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2746086045718769&id=2224058757921503&set=a.2549814938679215&source=48&refid=13&__tn__=%2B%3E

WBEngineer · 02-11-2020 6:37pm

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

Are those houses going to be flattened or are they actually going to continue to live there between the Breaffy Road, the new dual carriageway and the slip road connecting them?!

The house on the far right was purchased in 2017 by its current occupants. Mayo CoCo agreed to CPO the property in August 2020 after some issues arose with the owners. They are still residing in the property.

The property to its left was not originally meant to be CPO'd either. However, in 2016 Mayo CoCo changed its mind, altered the road plan and CPO'd the property after issues with the owners arose. Those occupants moved to a new build on the Westport Road in 2019.

However, that house was then given by Mayo CoCo to the couple that lived in the sole property to be demolished (property once stood with the green portaloo is located). They were residing there while their new home was being built. They are in the process of vacating the property. This property was/is expected to become a site office for WillsBam.

The house to the left of the demolished property (corner/garden visible in image) is occupied. That house is actually built on the sheet rock that is being broken/blasted and as such they are living in hell with noise and tremors echoing through the house from 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday. If you walk past that property you may be able to see the sound recorders installed in the rear garden by Mayo CoCo during working hours.

Finally, the property to the left of that house but out of view in the drone image is temporary vacant. The occupants complained about the noise and Mayo CoCo has agreed to pay them to rent a property elsewhere until the project is completed.

Pete_Cavan · 02-11-2020 9:21pm

WBEngineer wrote: »

The house on the far right was purchased in 2017 by its current occupants. Mayo CoCo agreed to CPO the property in August 2020 after some issues arose with the owners. They are still residing in the property.

So the owners of that house decided they couldn't/didn't want to live there with realities of the construction but have been living there with it going on around them for months? Surely the work of the construction will be over by the time they get out of there?

irishgeo · 02-11-2020 9:37pm

Pete_Cavan wrote: »

So the owners of that house decided they couldn't/didn't want to live there with realities of the construction but have been living there with it going on around them for months? Surely the work of the construction will be over by the time they get out of there?

who buys a house with approved planning for it to be encircled by roads?

Cosmo Kramer · 02-11-2020 11:54pm

WBEngineer wrote: »

Thanks for the detailed reply WBEngineer.

03-11-2020 10:27am

irishgeo wrote: »

who buys a house with approved planning for it to be encircled by roads?

To make a profit from the council. Probably got it cheap due to desperate sellers and will to gamble that the council would pay well. Looks like something very similar also happened on the westport road.

Dudda · 03-11-2020 11:48am

WBEngineer wrote: »

The house on the far right was purchased in 2017 by its current occupants. Mayo CoCo agreed to CPO the property ........

Thanks for going to the effort of creating an account just to give that information.

How are ye getting on with the project programme wise with Covid?

On the Ballyheane road a footpath goes out from Castlebar as far as Pat Kelly's Toyota garage and then the existing road gets narrow and dangerous. When complete with the new bridge and junction will the footpath be continued out or just a hard shoulder and how far on that stretch will it go do you know?
Will it go as far as the small houses on the left at the Derrynaskearynaskeagh turn off?

DumbBrunette · 14-11-2020 6:23pm

Piece from the Connaught Telegraph about the history of accidents at the Barleyhill bends outside Westport, which will be realigned as part of the N5 W-T scheme:

https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2020/11/14/deathtrap-bend-to-be-removed-after-almost-100-years/

It's the worst bit of N road in Mayo and actually has warning signs saying 'oncoming traffic in middle of road'.

I never understood why they started the N59 upgrades in Newport and worked toward Westport. It would have made more sense to start with Barleyhill because it's the worst stretch by far.

yop · 14-11-2020 8:05pm

Took a few photos today.
The new road put in in islandeady.
2 pics of the new road either side of it.

Then 2 more pics of the graveyard road and pics heading to Cbar and westport.

irishgeo · 18-11-2020 3:31pm

Anyone know what the traffic plan is for the breaffy road.

Looks like a diversion aross the newly dug out bit of the left of the road leaving town. Could be a traffic nightmare if it's single file and a set of traffic lights especially at peak times. Need to get on to Google maps and see if there is a set of back roads to avoid it.

unit 1 · 20-11-2020 8:41pm

Anyone know where we can see the design drawings for this scheme.

They used to be available on the mayo road design website, but it seems to have been revamped and I cannot find them anywhere now.

DumbBrunette · 20-11-2020 10:30pm

They're gone unfortunately. I emailed head of roads Paul Dolan pdolan@mayococo.ie to complain but got no response :-)

unit 1 wrote: »

Anyone know where we can see the design drawings for this scheme.

They used to be available on the mayo road design website, but it seems to have been revamped and I cannot find them anywhere now.

DumbBrunette · 21-11-2020 9:46pm

Latest drone pics from around N84 junction:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2779482392379134&id=2224058757921503&anchor_composer=false&ref=page_internal

steeler j · 21-11-2020 10:07pm

Any word on the road closure that locals were upset about ,was it resolved

DumbBrunette · 22-11-2020 1:36am

The closure has been postponed until the new year and a temporary realignment provided instead. An armistice rather than a peace treaty!

steeler j wrote: »

Any word on the road closure that locals were upset about ,was it resolved

steeler j · 22-11-2020 11:35am

DumbBrunette wrote: »

The closure has been postponed until the new year and a temporary realignment provided instead. An armistice rather than a peace treaty!

Thanks

Dudda · 23-11-2020 11:10am

That's a big hole they're digging. What's this for? Is it just the rock they need do you think?

riddlinrussell · 23-11-2020 12:08pm

I'd imagine so, part of the ground surveys for these projects nowadays is identifying the rock strata nearby for 'borrow pits', generally they want to take as much material as possible from the immediate surroundings for construction, to minimise transportation/environmental costs etc.

They then take surplus material that wasn't suitable for road building from other places on the route and fill the hole back in.

N5 - Westport to Turlough [open to traffic]

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