Immediate safety measures needed at dangerous Mayo bridges

SAFETY measures - be it traffic calming or a speed limit reduction - are needed at the three bridges in Cashel, Achill.

The request came from Councillor Paul McNamara after he was told works to remedy the accident black spots are some way down the line yet.

At a municipal district meeting, he asked for an update on a funding application, saying he is concerned they are going to have to go through another three years with the existing bridges as they are.

There was another accident at the location in recent weeks and he has been raising how dangerous the situation is at Cashel for a number of years.

The timelines he was given meant there would be another three years of danger and he warned there will be a fatality at the bridges.

Until construction starts, immediate traffic calming measures need to be put in place, he told council management.

That request will be brought to the roads office to try and improve the situation.

Councillor McNamara was told that an application for funding for the three bridges in 2025 has been made, when a study will be carried out. If planning is required, it will have to go to An Bord Pleanála, which could be 2026.

The hope is to start work at the end of 2026 and finish it in 2027.