Swinford bypass requires urgent action

NEAR misses are continuing on the N5 bypass at Swinford where a local elected representative has called for urgent action.

The five-kilometre stretch has 13 junctions, with fatalities 'common place', Councillor Adrian Forkan told the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council.

The amount of near misses and non-fatal accident is 'frightening', with more near misses over the past week, and something needs to be done very quickly.

It can't be a 10-year plan, he urged management. It has to be done now.

Councillor Forkan said there is no stacking lane at the Kiltimagh or Kilkelly turns, where motorists are at risk of being rear-ended and pushed out into incoming traffic when trying to turn right.

He described the Corrib Oil junction as 'lethal', while the Culmore junction had seen fatalities recently.

Go down the road to Charlestown and it was the safest stretch in the country, and that was something they had to bring to the Swinford side.

The stacking lanes at the two junctions have to be done immediately before someone else he killed, he said.

Director of services Tom Gilligan said a feasibility and options report has been approved by TII and it is hoped to commence with some works.