Plans for new east Mayo bus stop, but councillors concerned about lengthy timeline

PLANS for a new bus stop in Kilkelly are being progressed, which will address safety concerns.

At the moment, buses pull up along the N17 to collect passengers, who often wait in the rain due to the lack of a shelter.

New plans include a bus stop, a turning circle, car parking spaces and a bus shelter, with buses coming in off the N17 to a safe area so pedestrians no longer have to cross the road.

Local Councillor John Caulfield impressed the urgency of the works at a municipal district meeting this week, where members heard it will be Q3 of 2025 before a report is submitted to An Bord Pleanála.

There is an accident waiting to happen, he warned, and it wasn't good enough that people, many going to hospital appointments in Galway, were soaked wet getting on the bus.

This issue has been ongoing for years, he said.

The councillor acknowledged there had been difficulty getting a suitable site but that has now been identified and there is funding.

However, he wondered if the authorities appreciated the urgency of the project and believed it could be expedited more quickly than the timelines they had been given.

The safety aspect was highlighted by Councillor Adrian Forkan, with 10 to 15 cars parking in the hard shoulder on dark evenings waiting for buses, and the buses then having to park outside.

The 2025 date was 'too far away', he said, and the project needed to be expedited.

Councillor Neil Cruise agreed the timelines were 'ludicrous, saying it wasn't a huge job.

Members were told the development, which is a TII project, will require planning permission and going to An Bord Pleanála and it will take time.