26 Sep Dillon welcomes progress on N5 Project
Mayo TD Alan Dillon has welcomed the news that the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge Road Project is progressing to the construction phase.
Deputy Alan Dillon said this major project involves the construction of approximately 34km of new single carriageway road that will extend from the western end of the existing N5 Ballaghaderreen Bypass to the townland of Scramoge in County Roscommon, bypassing the towns and villages of Frenchpark, Bellanagare, Tulsk and Strokestown.
It will provide long-term economic benefits to the region, improving connectivity to Ireland West Airport at Knock.
By completing the missing links in the N5 corridor it will improve access to the west and northwest. The new route will also make the towns and villages it serves more attractive places to live, work and shop by diverting heavy traffic, trucks and other heavy goods vehicles out of their centres.
Deputy Dillon said: “The estimated total scheme cost of the N5 project is more than €450million and it will take up to four years to complete.”
He said provision will also be made for pedestrian and cyclist facilities where the route meets access points to some of the towns along the route.
“The Government remains committed to funding this project due to the road safety concerns surrounding the route. Roughly half of the existing route has a collision rate above the national average for such roads, with significant sections having a rate twice the national average.”
Deputy Dillon said: “The removal of approx. 70 percent of traffic from the existing N5 corridor will improve safety, air quality and noise, thereby creating a more attractive route for active travel. It will also create opportunities for enhanced physical activity within and between the communities of Strokestown, Tulsk, Bellanagare, Frenchpark, along with the tourism potential of the Candidate UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Rathcroghan Archaeological complex.
‘I am delighted that one of the main benefits in Mayo will be improved connectivity to Ireland West Airport. However, we now need to progress on the N17 Knock to Collooney project as well as further investment in our rail infrastructure, including the Western Rail Corridor if we are to be serious about regional balanced development.”