In-person consultation sought on how plans for Mayo town crossing were arrived at

MAYO County Council and the roads design office have been asked to hold a public consultation event to discuss plans for a pedestrian crossing in Foxford.

Consultation is open in respect of a proposed traffic calming scheme at the N58 Main Street / N26 Chapel Road / L-5361 Lower Main Street road junction in the town.

To date, 21 submissions voicing concerns about the plans have been submitted to the council via its online consultation portal.

The proposed measures include upgrade and refurbishment works to the existing pedestrian crossing, footpath and kerbline alterations for junction tightening to all vehicular movements, and additional signage and road markings.

A key element of the traffic calming proposal is road safety improvement by way of removal of the existing right turn movement from N58 Main Street onto the N26 Chapel Road. On approval and completion of the project, no right turn movement would be permitted from Main Street onto the Swinford road.

Submissions accept that the pedestrian crossing needs to be reviewed and upgraded as it is dangerous.

However there is particular concern about the impact the new proposals will have on road safety at the local secondary school as traffic is sent by it with the removal of the town centre turn onto the N26.

The school, on Providence Road, sees large volumes of staff and students crossing the road to use its other school campus. There is no pedestrian crossing on the road, which is already busy, and to suggest adding a substantial amount of more traffic to it on a daily basis would be 'massively dangerous', it was submitted.

Councillor Neil Cruise has written to the council and Mayo Roads Design Office requesting a local public consultation afternoon or evening next week to explain the proposed safety measures for the pedestrian crossing of the N26 in Foxford and how these proposals were arrived at.

He said: “I have had many representations regarding these proposals and I have made this request in advance of the consultation ending on 5th June.”