Members of Castlebar Municipal District have decried the state of roads in the MD with reference made to damaged road surfaces from ongoing motorway works and potholes turning into craters big enough to swim in.
At the May meeting of the authority held in Islandeady Community Centre, Cllr Ger Deere stated that the council needed an updated report on the state of roads to be provided by the N5 contractor group, and said: “The roads are in a state, Cloggernaugh East road is now an obstacle course. We need a report at every meeting, it is the responsibility of the contractor to upkeep these roads, there are large craters you could swim in and plant trees in.”
Councillors Cyril Burke and Donna Sheridan asked when was the golf links road to reopen fully again, with Cllr Sheridan stating there is now 'a tail-back of traffic and then suddenly motorists turn a corner and have to suddenly stop, with no warning lights or signage'. Cllr Sheridan also said a traffic layout at Breaffy Church was forcing people to drive out and in, in order to get out again, and needed to be addressed.
Cllr Michael Kilcoyne said that even driving to the Municipal meeting at the Islandeady venue he encountered more potholes, saying: “I don’t know why they can’t be filled” and added "the junction of the Old Kingsbridge - now the ETB, you can see where the road has sunk, where pipes or something were put in; the road is sinking and water is seeping in. I thought we had overseers to take action on things like this." He added that in the Garryduff Estate they had sought to have ramps put in - 'also to no avail'.
After numerous other roads were cited by councillors as also requiring attention, Mayo County Council Senior Engineer, Ann Sweeney responded: "We are doing a report and assessment with the idea of funding for areas that need restoration. Our crews are working on a number of projects at the moment, including here in Islandeady and also an upgrade of seating in Market Square and The Mall; there has been funding for one section of the Rathbawn footpaths this year, which are below standard, and we hope to apply for more funding and for traffic calming there also; it is a heavy residential area and a lot of school children use it; a 30km speed limit has been introduced and the intention is to follow up with some traffic calming; on Marion Row - as raised by Cllr Gavin, there is some work on it included in the Roadworks programme this year; in Fairways - there is funding to better link Summerfield onto the Greenway and improve lighting; we may need funding in regard to calls to update signage into Castlebar and with the new road there will be a full review, a lot of signs will be removed and we are working on designs for new signage and will have the full report in the Autumn." She added that in Balla, Ballyhean and Partry the council is working with Transport Infrastructure Ireland on pedestrian crossings.
