The focus of the original Westport-Bohola N59 upgrade has been moved with a view to developing part of the route east of Castlebar over to Mount Falcon and on to Bohola.
According to Tony McNulty, road design senior executive engineer with Mayo County Council, the overall project received a major setback last February when the N26 was turned down by An Bord Pleanala on environmental issues. “There were also queries on reduced traffic volumes and whether we needed to build such an elaborate road net network. Unfortunately this had a huge impact on the Westport to Bohola project because it was coming after that and joining in, but because that point is no longer in the east part of the project the whole route is in question.
“What we are doing is pressing ahead with the N59 to Aitereesh to some point east of Castlebar, and if that’s possible to Bohola and incorporate the Mount Falcon section and it is hoped to get that project up for public consultation next year,” said Mr McNulty.
