Summer start for new Cloongullane Bridge

MAYO County Council is expected to appoint a contractor for the new Cloongullane Bridge between Swinford and Foxford in May, with work on the €2.5 million project to start in early summer.

Senator Michelle Mulherin said the council has confirmed to her that they are ready to issue tenders to the three short-listed candidates. The project will then go to tender and the council expects to appoint a contractor in May, with the project going to construction.

Mayo County Council is meeting Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) this week to get the go-ahead to issue tenders to the three short-listed candidates for the new bridge.

Ground works and clearing the route for the road have already taken place and there is currently archaeology work underway at the site on the N26. “All this means that as soon as the contractor is appointed construction work can begin without delay,” she explained.

She commented: “I have been making the case for an upgrade of the N26 at Cloongullane Bridge to the Taoiseach over the past while, particularly as planning issues pertaining to the River Moy SAC were threatening again to derail progress in the past couple of years.

“I am delighted that we overcame these planning issues owing to the proper resources to address environmental issues being provided after the Taoiseach’s intervention at my request and with the assistance of Minister Josepha Madigan whose department deals with environmental designation.

“It is fantastic to now be in a position whereby the new Cloongullane Bridge project will start in early summer. I have been unwavering in my campaign to upgrade the N26 since my election to Dáil Éireann and subsequently to Seanad Éireann to date.

“This breakthrough for the N26 gives us hope that we can overcome planning and environmental issues for the River Moy SAC and see progress on the rest of the road between Swinford, Foxford and Ballina.

“This major upgrading of the N26 will encourage investment and support employment in north and east Mayo and will be welcomed by our SMEs and big employers.”