Efforts to reopen road following explosion at Mayo restaurant

EFFORTS are underway to reopen a road in Castlebar which has been closed following a gas explosion at a restaurant at the weekend.

Concern about the traffic congestion resulting from the closure at Lower Charles Street was aired at a municipal district meeting this afternoon.

The building where the incident happened, the Imperial Blue Indian restaurant, is considered a risk to the public, municipal head David Mellett told councillors.

Discussions are taking place with the property owner about appropriate action and it is hoped to have a decision on that in the coming days.

The council are looking at optimising the traffic flow and getting the road open again as soon as possible.

At the minute, though, the building, which is cordoned off, is a risk to the public, he said.

The ongoing closure of Lower Charles Street has led to serious traffic issues at peak times.

The council itself is developing property adjacent to the affected restaurant. That has been reviewed and appears to be undamaged.

Councillor Al McDonnell said he was asked if the road closed/diversion signage could be moved to the N5 at Mulroy's roundabout to ease the congestion in the town centre.