Mayo Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin has informed Ballina Town Council that €300,000 has been allocated in this year’s Roads Budget to find the best alternative national road connection to Ballina and north Mayo, following the decision by An Bord Pleanala to refuse permission for Mayo County Council’s plan for the new route.
Deputy Mulherin, who was briefing members of the authority on the project, said the Strategic Transport Study for the N26 Phase II will start this year and will be carried out by the National Roads Authority (NRA ) in conjunction with Mayo County Council.
“The work will involve not just a study of N26 to find optimum location for the new route but also an in-depth study of An Bord Pleanala’s decision to refuse permission for Mayo County Council’s original plan to link Ballina to the N5 at Bohola. The study will also look at the N58 through Foxford and Straide to establish the best point to connect with the N5.”
Deputy Mulherin added that linking the N26 with the N5 was critical to the future development of north Mayo, opening up the area with proper east/west/south/north connectivity and the allocation of funds to overcome the setback resulting from Bord Pleanala’s decision showed the Government’s commitment to this project.
“'Unfortunately this project had been assigned to the scrap heap since An Bord Pleanala's decision in February 2010 and we had been forgotten about. I have been diligently pursuing this issue and am delighted to have it back on track.
“I want to thank the Taoiseach for his support in recognising how important the development of the N26 is for sustaining and growing business, industry, and tourism in the region and this tangible commitment to keep the project alive and progress matters through this allocation.”
