Search icon

Politics

24th May 2018

€170 million road in County Mayo finally receives the green light

Michael Lanigan

Minister Michael Ring has championed it as a “game changer” for the West.

The construction of the N5 Westport-Turlough has received a major green light, as the Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring confirmed that the Mayo road is going to tender for the procurement of a main contractor.

Ring welcomed the news by calling this “one of the most significant projects in the West in a generation.”

This major government investment will cost approximately €170 million, which includes land and construction expenses.

https://twitter.com/MichaelRingFG/status/999601530226597888

“It is one of the most significant investments in the West of Ireland in a generation,” the Minister said. “It will transform the way Mayo will work. It is a signal of intent for the Atlantic corridor and it will help to drive the development of the county.”

“I have been working on this 20 years. In 1994 this project was to go ahead but was shelved by Fianna Fáil and they were in government for 17 years after that and nothing was done about this road.”

At almost 26km in length, the new N5 development is set to include a northern bypass of Westport and an eastern bypass of Castlebar, along with an upgrade to the current N5 east of Castlebar, a bridge crossing of Lough Lannagh and a further upgrade to an existing bridge over the Castlebar River.

LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Conor Sketches | Tiger Woods loves Ger Loughnane and cosplaying as Charles LeClerc