Call for new vehicle bridge as part of road bypass project in North Mayo
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Cllr Marie-Thérèse Duffy tells Transport Infrastructure Ireland the Ballina Eastern Bypass project, including a new bridge over the Moy, is urgently needed
A call has been made for funding to be allocated in 2027 to progress the proposed Ballina Eastern Bypass, including the construction of a new vehicle bridge over the River Moy.
Cllr Marie-Thérèse Duffy raised the project during a meeting between representatives of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and members of Mayo County Council’s Strategic Policy Committee for Roads and Sustainable Travel.
The meeting examined a range of strategic roads and sustainable transport projects across Mayo, with Cllr Duffy highlighting what she described as the urgent need to advance the eastern bypass and secure funding to allow work to begin as soon as possible.
She said the project would provide a new vehicle crossing over the Moy and would complement the proposed western bypass, with both schemes helping to address traffic pressures and improve access to and around Ballina.
Cllr Duffy told the meeting that the case for the project should be supported by objective measures, including daily traffic volumes, population served, economic activity, congestion and regional connectivity.
She said Ballina, as a Tier 1 town in Mayo and a designated Key Urban Centre, required significant improvements in road accessibility.
She also called for a dedicated traffic study to provide supporting data and strengthen the case for the project.
Cllr Duffy said the eastern bypass was necessary to support regional development and improve connectivity for the town and surrounding areas.
“I believe that this project is a necessity for balanced regional development,” Cllr Duffy said.
TII representatives noted the points raised by Cllr Duffy and other councillors. The project proposal has been submitted as part of a number of funding requests, with any successful allocations for 2027 expected to be announced in due course.
The meeting was also attended by Ballina Municipal District Cathaoirleach Cllr Annie May Reape, who raised a number of projects relevant to the district.
Cllr Duffy thanked Mayo County Council’s National Roads Office and TII for their work on road infrastructure and project delivery across the county. She also acknowledged Senator Mark Duffy’s efforts to progress the eastern bypass proposal on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport.