N5 - Westport to Turlough [open to traffic]

DumbBrunette · 08-07-2020 10:13pm

Drone pic of earthworks at Castlebar east junction:

https://m.facebook.com/2224058757921503/photos/a.2549814938679215/2654117924915582/?type=3

JupiterKid · 14-07-2020 10:03pm

Just back from a long weekend away in Mayo with my partner. Much needed break to recharge the batteries.

We saw the earthworks for this major scheme at several locations outside Castlebar and they are making excellent progress with heavy earthworks. The N5 between Castlebar and Westport is seriously overloaded with traffic and is very clearly unfit for purpose. The N5 Type 2 DC scheme cannot come quickly enough.

There is a stop/go arrangement in place (manned by construction workers) on the main N5 a few miles to the West of Castlebar where the scheme crosses the N5.

When I get some free time I will try to post a couple of photos I took of the works up here.

DumbBrunette · 18-07-2020 11:10pm

Pic close to N84 junction today. Not much has visibly changed here or at the N5 crossing point in the last month or so.

I presume the works are focused at the two future railway bridges either side of Castlebar, but I can't get close enough to check if that's the case

irishgeo · 22-07-2020 1:39am

They weren't long getting the signs up TII .2 new signs showing the new road where the funding is from etc.

Some glare in the full beams off the 2 of them in breaffy. Not sure why there is 2 as I couldn't read them with the glare.

yew_tree · 22-07-2020 6:18pm

I assume you will access the new road via roundabout at Turlough? Claremorris and ballinrobe roads will be access via a junction flyover similar to the Kilmaine road on the Tuam bypass?

marno21 · 22-07-2020 6:24pm

yew_tree wrote: »

I assume you will access the new road via roundabout at Turlough? Claremorris and ballinrobe roads will be access via a junction flyover similar to the Kilmaine road on the Tuam bypass?

Exactly that, yes.

Westernyelp · 22-07-2020 7:47pm

Maguire haulage have some amount of trucks on the road

yop · 28-07-2020 4:30pm

Westernyelp wrote: »

Maguire haulage have some amount of trucks on the road

I heard over 100 trucks.

Hearing the road to Islandeady from the Westport/Cbar road to be closed for 7 months. That will make a big impact.

steeler j · 28-07-2020 6:44pm

Westernyelp wrote: »

Maguire haulage have some amount of trucks on the road

Maguire's have a serious operation,trucks on nearly every infrastructure project

mayo.mick · 02-08-2020 12:28am

Some dashcam of the N5 junction and Breaffy Rd crossing taken today.

DumbBrunette · 08-08-2020 11:11pm

Some satellite pictures of the N5 scheme from this afternoon attached below. Hard to believe but it's the first time in two months that there's been a clear view!

The earthworks are still focused mainly on the Castlebar bypass section, clearly visible in the attached pic.

The other attachment is a close-up showing the Lough Lannagh causeway.

irishgeo · 08-08-2020 11:30pm

blasting notice has been erected at the breaffy road crossing.

DumbBrunette · 12-08-2020 9:34pm

Haul road is now in place across Lough Lannagh (see attached pic).

This has allowed earthworks to move west to Islandeady - serious digging going on there today. One small hill next to the road from the current N5 to Islandeady was already half gone when I drove past today.

irishgeo · 13-08-2020 9:35am

DumbBrunette wrote: »

Haul road is now in place across Lough Lannagh (see attached pic).

This has allowed earthworks to move west to Islandeady - serious digging going on there today. One small hill next to the road from the current N5 to Islandeady was already half gone when I drove past today.

I spotted that. Tearing into the hill at around 7pm when I passed.

DumbBrunette · 13-08-2020 10:52am

This was the same view of Lough Lannagh in late June, good progress being made.

irishgeo wrote: »

I spotted that. Tearing into the hill at around 7pm when I passed.

mayo.mick · 14-08-2020 11:44pm

Blasting notice erected on the N5 junction.

Some dashcam from Wednesday.

DumbBrunette · 21-08-2020 11:18am

Neither this scheme nor the N22 have had an official sod turning, probably the first time this has ever been the case for two huge road schemes.

This suggests that politicians believe there isn't much political benefit in building roads anymore - it's not a good sign for the long-term IMO.

Cookiemunster · 21-08-2020 11:22am

DumbBrunette wrote: »

Neither this scheme nor the N22 have had an official sod turning, probably the first time this has ever been the case for two huge road schemes.

This suggests that politicians believe there isn't much political benefit in building roads anymore - it's not a good sign for the long-term IMO.

We've in the middle of a pandemic for the last 6 months and didn't have a government until 6 weeks ago. Things like official sod turnings are very low on the priority list.

irishgeo · 21-08-2020 11:31am

DumbBrunette wrote: »

Neither this scheme nor the N22 have had an official sod turning, probably the first time this has ever been the case for two huge road schemes.

This suggests that politicians believe there isn't much political benefit in building roads anymore - it's not a good sign for the long-term IMO.

The new messiner factory didn't have an official opening either. Maybe its a sign there isn't much benefit in opening factories.

BelfastVanMan · 21-08-2020 3:04pm

irishgeo wrote: »

The new messiner factory didn't have an official opening either. Maybe its a sign there isn't much benefit in opening factories.

Maybe the Covid restrictions had something to do with it?

irishgeo · 21-08-2020 3:38pm

BelfastVanMan wrote: »

Maybe the Covid restrictions had something to do with it?

I was being sarcastic.

BelfastVanMan · 21-08-2020 5:28pm

irishgeo wrote: »

I was being sarcastic.

So you were.

spacetweek · 24-08-2020 3:33pm

Surprised no one has updated OpenStreetMap with this scheme - how is this usually done?

spacetweek · 24-08-2020 5:00pm

spacetweek wrote: »

Surprised no one has updated OpenStreetMap with this scheme - how is this usually done?

Never mind - added it there.

DumbBrunette · 28-08-2020 12:16pm

Short video from Wills Bros' LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/wills-bros-ltd_bulkearthworks-n5w2t-mayo-activity-6699679277853503488-4t34

DumbBrunette · 07-09-2020 10:44pm

Foundations of the overbridge at the N5/N84 junction are now in place, see attached photo courtesy of Jack Walsh drone photography.

More new pics of the project at link below:

https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2710165115977529&id=2224058757921503&set=pcb.2710165255977515&source=49&refid=13&__tn__=%2B%3D

DumbBrunette · 08-09-2020 4:48pm

Just to keep the good times rolling, here's the first project newsletter too:

https://n5w2t.com/newsletters/

DumbBrunette · 20-09-2020 11:21pm

Latest satellite pics show earthworks seem to have started between the Lodge road and Corrib oil in Westport.

Haven't been down that way in a while though so maybe Mayo posters will know more.

yop · 21-09-2020 12:42am

DumbBrunette wrote: »

Latest satellite pics show earthworks seem to have started between the Lodge road and Corrib oil in Westport.

Haven't been down that way in a while though so maybe Mayo posters will know more.

Definitely more work been done there now. Can see more definition in the road now with the machines working.

Still no sign of the Islandeady road been closed. Serious amount of earth moved from the hill there.

DumbBrunette · 21-09-2020 9:23am

I think the closure has been put back because the locals were unhappy about it, they're trialling automated stop/go boards instead according to MCC.

yop wrote: »

Definitely more work been done there now. Can see more definition in the road now with the machines working.

Still no sign of the Islandeady road been closed. Serious amount of earth moved from the hill there.

mayo.mick · 23-09-2020 9:37pm

Drone footage on the Connacht Telegraph facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=963318474079070&extid=Uh7nlTuPV21ZXbQ1

DumbBrunette · 24-09-2020 10:52pm

Wills BAM cut a planned road closure in Islandeady from 9 months to 3 months because of local concerns but now the parish priest is threatening to lie down in front of the diggers because 3 months is still too long **facepalm**

https://www.mayonews.ie/news/35861-we-have-been-completely-abandoned

yop · 25-09-2020 12:12pm

DumbBrunette wrote: »

Wills BAM cut a planned road closure in Islandeady from 9 months to 3 months because of local concerns but now the parish priest is threatening to lie down in front of the diggers because 3 months is still too long **facepalm**

https://www.mayonews.ie/news/35861-we-have-been-completely-abandoned

Why face palm?

DumbBrunette · 25-09-2020 12:53pm

Because cutting the closure from 9 months to 3 months seems like a very reasonable way to address the concerns of the local people. The priest doesn't acknowledge that at all and is just stirring things up.

It's the NIMBY, whinging approach to getting what he wants that really annoys me.

yop wrote: »

Why face palm?

irishgeo · 25-09-2020 1:58pm

It's the fact they don't have an access road to the new road is a bugbear as well.

marno21 · 25-09-2020 2:22pm

irishgeo wrote: »

It's the fact they don't have an access road to the new road is a bugbear as well.

They do have access eastbound at the Castlebar West interchange which is quite a bit west of Castlebar. It’ll be very handy taking people around Castlebar towards the N26 and N17 in addition to the N5. Westport isn’t a million miles from here either and the old road will suffice.

Exits for everyone is what is going to make upgrading the old N5 a headache east of Castlebar in the future. These roads need to be limited access to a reasonable extent.

yop · 25-09-2020 3:28pm

DumbBrunette wrote: »

Because cutting the closure from 9 months to 3 months seems like a very reasonable way to address the concerns of the local people. The priest doesn't acknowledge that at all and is just stirring things up.

It's the NIMBY, whinging approach to getting what he wants that really annoys me.

As a local and I use that road a fair bit its not whinging.
I'm part of the school committee also and its become a major pain for the people with kids.
Parents who have kids on the church side of the closure will have to go into Castlebar through peak school traffic and back out to the school.
Other parents who have to go to work and can't afford the time have had to club together to arrange and pay for a private bus.
This is an extra 30-40 each way depending on traffic to the kids day.
The road after the Gaiety is a single line road with very very few pull in spots and also is been heavily used by construction traffic.

Anyone attending The GAA also will be inconvenienced and there are lots of us the wrong side. We have on a Sat morning 85 kids from U6-U8-U10 and out of there we'd be looking at 30 kids been on the wrong side of the closure.

Those using the community centre as the new IT Hub or the senior citizens groups will have the same issue.
Those going to mass, I don't go myself, will also have the same issue.
The graveyard is one side of the closure and the church the other.
For a burial it will need to go in the backroad, onto the newport road and in through Castlebar and back out.

Anyone going from the Glenisland road to Allergen use that road regular.

The access to the new road actually isnt an issue as said already we have 3 other access points to that new road.

While it may seem as a whing, believe me as a local and regular user this is a major inconvenience and time cost to me, but an actual cost to many who send their kids to school or use that road to commute.

afatbollix · 25-09-2020 5:49pm

Why do they need to close it?

road_high · 25-09-2020 6:01pm

irishgeo wrote: »

It's the fact they don't have an access road to the new road is a bugbear as well.

This is very common on any major motorway or dual carriageway. Access is limited for safety and also cost reasons.
Any if the major inter urban motorways would have junctions at 10-20 km intervals or so. I would t expect this project to have more than 3 or 4 junctions given its length at most. The old road is still there for local access

road_high · 25-09-2020 6:02pm

afatbollix wrote: »

Why do they need to close it?

Provably need to completely realign it to fit in/under with the new road

prunudo · 26-09-2020 11:40am

yop wrote: »

As a local and I use that road a fair bit its not whinging.
I'm part of the school committee also and its become a major pain for the people with kids.
Parents who have kids on the church side of the closure will have to go into Castlebar through peak school traffic and back out to the school.
Other parents who have to go to work and can't afford the time have had to club together to arrange and pay for a private bus.
This is an extra 30-40 each way depending on traffic to the kids day.
The road after the Gaiety is a single line road with very very few pull in spots and also is been heavily used by construction traffic.

Anyone attending The GAA also will be inconvenienced and there are lots of us the wrong side. We have on a Sat morning 85 kids from U6-U8-U10 and out of there we'd be looking at 30 kids been on the wrong side of the closure.

Those using the community centre as the new IT Hub or the senior citizens groups will have the same issue.
Those going to mass, I don't go myself, will also have the same issue.
The graveyard is one side of the closure and the church the other.
For a burial it will need to go in the backroad, onto the newport road and in through Castlebar and back out.

Anyone going from the Glenisland road to Allergen use that road regular.

The access to the new road actually isnt an issue as said already we have 3 other access points to that new road.

While it may seem as a whing, believe me as a local and regular user this is a major inconvenience and time cost to me, but an actual cost to many who send their kids to school or use that road to commute.

Every new road scheme has some sort of road closures, some for much longer than 3 months. As much as a pain it may be, these are the prices we have to pay for new and safer infrastructure, its not forever, this time next year it will be all forgotten about.
After whats happened the last 7 months of this year i thought we'd all be used to annoying inconveniences and our lives being turned upside down.

BelfastVanMan · 26-09-2020 12:50pm

prunudo wrote: »

Every new road scheme has some sort of road closures, some for much longer than 3 months. As much as a pain it may be, these are the prices we have to pay for new and safer infrastructure, its not forever, this time next year it will be all forgotten about.
After whats happened the last 7 months of this year i thought we'd all be used to annoying inconveniences and our lives being turned upside down.

Well said.

yop · 28-09-2020 11:14am

As I said, its a major inconvenience for the locals. But if its goes into place it does. From what I am hearing now they are looking at an alternative which is no harm those affected daily.

DumbBrunette · 28-09-2020 8:59pm

Great aerial shot from today courtesy of Jack Walsh drone photography. Location is 1.5km SW of N84 junction, which can be seen in the distance.

https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2729804137346960&id=2224058757921503&set=a.2549814938679215&source=49&refid=13&ref=page_internal&__tn__=%2B%3D

DumbBrunette · 30-09-2020 11:04pm

A lot of hyperbole but little action - local councillors have just woken up and realised the people of Islandeady are not happy:

https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2020/09/30/a-mayo-community-almost-imprisoned-by-new-road-construction-works/

runawaybishop · 30-09-2020 11:05pm

DumbBrunette wrote: »

A lot of hyperbole but little action - local councillors have just woken up and realised the people of Islandeady are not happy:

https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2020/09/30/a-mayo-community-almost-imprisoned-by-new-road-construction-works/

In fairness it seems the first they heard was a piece in the paper about a 9 month road closure. Shirley there was a consultation with the community first?

DumbBrunette · 30-09-2020 11:23pm

Don't call me Shirley

The issue has been in the local papers several times since the summer. Until now it was the community council and the local priest who spoke out so the councillors are a bit late to the party.

I imagine there will have to be a compromise by either cutting the closure period again to less than 3 months or providing some kind of temporary link like Kilcoyne said.

The parish priest has already implied people could lie down in front of the diggers so hopefully calm heads will prevail.

runawaybishop wrote: »

In fairness it seems the first they heard was a piece in the paper about a 9 month road closure. Shirley there was a consultation with the community first?

Cosmo Kramer · 01-10-2020 7:43am

Is the image at the top of that article of the future N84 junction? Looks like it judging by the position of the houses near the junction. I had thought the new road was going over the N84 but it looks to be the other way around with the N84 being raised.

DumbBrunette · 01-10-2020 12:36pm

That's correct, N84 is being raised and shifted slightly west.

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

Is the image at the top of that article of the future N84 junction? Looks like it judging by the position of the houses near the junction. I had thought the new road was going over the N84 but it looks to be the other way around with the N84 being raised.

DumbBrunette · 08-10-2020 8:06am

Islandeady road closure row is heating up again:

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

N5 - Westport to Turlough [open to traffic]

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