Ballina bypass update as council confirms road could open by 2029
An update has been given on the long-awaited Ballina bypass as the project moves into the next phase of development.
Following a public information evening held at St Mary’s Secondary School in Ballina in August last year, the project is now aiming to complete Stage Three, the design and environmental assessment, and progress to Stage Four by March 2026.
Stage Four will see the project submitted to An Bord Pleanála for approval. If it advances as planned, Stage Five is expected to begin in January 2027.
This stage will involve land acquisition and the awarding of a construction contract, followed by construction works.
It is currently estimated that the bypass will be completed and open to traffic by the end of 2029.
Mayo County Council is working in partnership with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) on the project.
The update relates to Phase One of the Ballina bypass, which covers a 2.3km route linking the N26 Foxford to Dublin Road with the N59 Crossmolina Road, between the townlands of Behybaun and Gurteens.
The route will begin approximately 70 metres north of the entrance to Hollister, with a roundabout junction on the N26 in Behybaun.
From there, it will travel west, crossing the Ballina to Manulla railway line via a bridge in Creggaun, before turning north to cross the L-1122 and L-5113 roads.
The bypass will then go through the townlands of Commons, Knocklehaugh and Gorteen, tying into the existing N59 at a new roundabout around 300m south of the Top Oil fuel station.
Once completed, the bypass is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion in Ballina town centre and improve journey times for motorists travelling between the south and west of the town.
“This is a frustratingly long process for the North Mayo community, but progress is being made,” said Ballina councillor Marie-Thérèse Duffy as she confirmed the updated timeline.
Phase Two of the Ballina bypass, a proposed 7.5km stretch running from the Foxford Road near Hollister, crossing the River Moy and connecting to the Sligo Road, is not yet a live project with TII.
Cllr Duffy said local representatives have requested a meeting with TII to push for the scheme to be advanced and included on the national list of projects.
“The Ballina bypass, Phase One and Phase Two, need to be prioritised at a national governmental level. In addition to this, we would like to see the two bypass projects underway at the same time,” she said.
Cllr Duffy anticipates that once Phase One receives planning approval from An Bord Pleanála and enters Stage Five of development, work can begin on Phase Two.
Before that can happen, a ‘scope and pre-appraisal’ stage will be required, involving detailed feasibility and environmental studies due to the proposed new crossing of the River Moy.
“We as public representatives will continue to do everything we can to drive progress on these projects at a national level, where the responsibility for approving these projects lies,” said Cllr Duffy.
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.