Environmental hurdles scupper work on upgrading N59 road

As environmental hurdles scupper work on upgrading the Oughterard to Clifden road, there is no such hold-up on another section of the N59 in rural west Mayo .

A major upgrading scheme is curently underway on the N59 between Westport and Mulranny with the present phase due to be finished in November.  The plan includes 600 metres of offline (effectively a new roadway) as well as the general upgrading work.

The N59 road enters into County Mayo in Leenane and follows on into Westport and north to Bangor Erris.  From there it angles eastwards to Ballina and into Co Sligo.

Environmental hurdles have scuppered attempts to upgrade the N59 from Oughterard to Clifden.

But work is powering ahead in Mayo. An Bord Pleanála gave development permission for an upgrade of the 23-kilometre section from Westport to Mulranny; the phase being developed at the moment is between Kilmeena and Kilbride.

€4.5m. was allocated for this year’s work – that is about the same sum of money which had to be returned to the State coffers from Connemara last year because the Co Council could not get a go-ahead for their plans from the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

It now looks likely that some of the €2m allocated for the general plans from Oughterard to Clifden for 2016 may again be going back to Dublin this year.

Ironically, the only money that may be spent is for the purchase of land between Maam Cross and Oughterard while there is no action on the actual road.  This is happening because the Bord Pleanála process involved the acquisition of lands beside the N59; the Council now must buy the land irrespective of what happens in relation to the 15-kilometre stretch of roadway from Oughterard to Maam Cross.

Sources in Mayo County Council say they will be continuing the work between Westport and Mulranny in phases.  While acknowledging that there has been a serious cutback in spending by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly the National Roads Authority), a spokesman in Mayo said that it was their intention to continue the work until it is complete.

Mayo County Council sources say that they have regular contact with the National Parks and Wildlife Service while road plans such as the one between Westport and Mulranny are being prepared.

The Council also carries out a preliminary study before they embark on looking for tenders from contractors. This is done in case there is any substantial change in environmental issues locally since the time of Development Permission being given.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service are made aware of that process.  When contractors are appointed to do the work, they are obliged to maintain contact with the Parks and Wildlife Service.

The sources in Mayo County Council say they were not hindered – for the most part – by Special Areas of Conversation or other designations on the Westport to Mulranny section of the N.59.  However, the plans were slightly impinging on designated areas at one point but it was not seen as significant.

Connemara has a very large area – possibly up to 80% west of Oughterard – of lands designated as SACs, NHA’s and SPA.  This has now constrained a lot of developments including the N59 which has been described as the “worst road of its kind in Ireland” by senior national politicians.