Mayo road that leaves road users ‘shook and rattled’ undergoing pavement enhancement works
Long-awaited pavement enhancement works are underway along a 2km section of the R335 Westport to Louisburg road at Belclare.
The road, which has been described as the “worst in County Mayo”, is one of the most heavily used regional routes in the county.
The R335 is a vital route for daily commuters, school transport, and tourists travelling between Louisburgh and Westport. It also provides access to Croagh Patrick and other popular destinations in west Mayo.
Louisburg-based councillor Chris Maxwell said he was “delighted to finally see machinery on the ground”.
However, while he welcomed the start of the pavement enhancement works, Cllr Maxwell has consistently stressed that the condition of the R335 remains in a terrible state.
The Independent Ireland councillor said he “will be keeping the pressure on” Mayo County Council, to ensure that the remaining section of the road between Belclare and Louisburgh, approximately 14km, undergoes similar enhancement works.
At the latest meeting of the Westport and Belmullet Municipal District, he said the amount of representations and calls he gets about the repairs of the R335 “never stops”.
“The people coming in and out of work every day of the week are shook and rattled to bits [whether] in their car, tractor, truck - you name it. It’s an absolute disgrace and a joke at this stage,” he told the meeting.
Cllr Maxwell has regularly highlighted the poor surface conditions and safety concerns along the R335 in various council meetings. He said that work on a new water scheme in the Murrisk to Kilsallagh area left sections of the road in disrepair, and that the entire route needs to be resurfaced to bring it up to standard.
“In Louisburgh, people feel forgotten about back there,” he added, “I need a timeline going forward for that road to be improved from Belclare all the way to Louisburgh. It’s only fair that people get an answer, it’s the only subject that comes up on a daily basis.”
Although no specific timeline was provided for completing the rest of the R335, council officials assured Cllr Maxwell that it will be looked at going forward.
The current pavement enhancement works are expected to continue until Friday, November 14. A traffic management and convoy system is in place, and road users are being warned of possible delays.
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.