Michelle Mulherin, Mayo Fine Gael TD, has welcomed the funding announcement of €2.4 million to restore the N59 between Crossmolina and Bellacorick. She said: "The €2.4 million funding will be used to restore the N59 between Crossmolina, through Carrowkilleen, Dooleeg, and to the far side of Bellacorrick. This is very good news for all those who use the N59 which has suffered severe wear and tear due to the heavy traffic, to and from the Corrib gas project, and the installation of the Bord Gáis pipeline, over recent years. I am delighted that €2.4 million in funding is being made available by the NRA, having raised the issue with the Minister for Transport and Tourism Leo Varadkar in the Dail and asked him the plans and priority he, and the National Roads Authority had, to bring the entire section of this road up to standard. This road is the main artery for business and tourism between Ballina and Belmullet and Erris and I am delighted to have been able to help bring about this substantial investment in this road.”
The Ballina based Deputy also welcomed the news that funding of €600,000 had been allocated to the N26 project. Deputy Mulherin said that the work which commenced in 2012 to find a new route for the N26 to provide an alternative adequate national road connection for Ballina and Erris, and to identify where it will connect with the N5, will continue this year with this further funding allocation.
She continued: “Allocations received over the past two years have enabled Mayo County Council's Regional Design office in conjunction with consultants to identify a number of route options which went on display to the public for consultation just before Christmas in Straide. The allocation for this year will allow the completion of further planning and environmental work in order to proceed to select the actual route. A lot of planning and design work is required to build a major road like this which takes time. It is excellent news that we can continue that work for this year. The amount of money for constructing roads has been cut massively over the past few years but it is my hope that when the country's finances are restored we will have our planning completed and be ready to bring this project to fruition. The N26 Project funding is contained in the National Roads Authority 2014 total allocations to Mayo County Council of nearly €17 million.”
Deputy Mulherin added: “The N26 is a major road artery into Ballina and provides an access gateway to the whole of Erris and this is very positive news for our region and I have left no stone unturned in that regard. I want to sincerely thank the Taoiseach and the Minister for Transport.”
