No logic in verge trimming N5 ahead of 'overgrown' local Mayo roads
Castlebar councillors question why the N5 is closed for verge trimming while local roads are overgrown and dangerous
Mayo councillors have called for verge trimming at dangerous junctions to be prioritised instead of 'wasting' resources closing the N5 dual-carriageway to trim the verge.
The growth of grass along the side of roads this summer has led to calls from councillors all over the country calling for an intensification of verge trimming along local roads and at junctions.
The issue was raised again at the monthly meeting of the Castlebar Municipal District where local councillors said the verge trimming along local roads should be prioritised or else there will be traffic accidents.
Mayo County Council announced their intention to temporarily close N5 dual-carriageway at night for five nights until August 1 to facilitate grass cutting to the verges with the closures taking place from 7pm to 6am on the nights in question.
Independent councillor Michael Kilcoyne was among the councillors to raise the matter and questioned why the N5 dual carriageway is closed to cut the verge but local roads are allowed to grow wild.
“In many local roads the grass is growing hugely and in many places you cannot get by,” he said.
“I wonder why that has not been given attention when at the same time the motorway [N5] which has a double lane in both directions is closed down to cut the grass. It is not good enough and whoever comes up with these bright ideas.
“You close down the road with a double lane but there are narrow roads where two cars cannot pass each other and there is no one to cut the grass growing out on it,” he said.
Fianna Fáil councillor Al McDonnell said the growth this summer has been exceptional and a lot of junctions are extremely dangerous.
Catahoirleach of the Castlebar Municipal District, Cllr Ger Deere said that verge trimming has to be prioritised where it is needed and claimed it was not required on the N5.
“What is this daft necessity of closing down the new road. Why are these the priorities because the grass will never grow long enough to come onto the new road…Yet they will spend a fortune on closing the road. I don't get the logic at all.”