N26 Foxford to Mount Falcon - Route Corridor Options
N26 Foxford to Mount Falcon - Route Corridor Options
Opendate_range30 Apr, 2025, 14:00 - 16 May, 2025, 23:00
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Mayo County Council in partnership with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the Department of Transport are developing the N26 Foxford to Mount Falcon Project. Mayo County Council has appointed RPS Consulting Engineers as Technical Advisors to progress the Planning and Design for the Project.
The N26 national primary road is a strategic corridor which provides important access to North Mayo, linking Ballina, the second largest town in County Mayo, with Foxford and Swinford towns and the N5 corridor.
The section of the N26 under consideration in this project, the N26 Foxford to Mount Falcon Project, is located immediately south of a previous improvement of the N26 within the townland of Drumrevagh at Mount Falcon and extends south to Foxford. The Study Area is approximately 8km long.
This section of the existing N26 traverses rural countryside. The existing road has restricted capacity due to its limited width and partially sub-standard alignment. There are no existing facilities for non-motorised users along this section of the N26. Vehicles travelling at high speeds, combined with the lack of hard shoulders or suitable verge widths make the road unsuitable for pedestrian and cyclist use.
When these elements are considered in conjunction with the high number of junctions and private accesses located on the existing road, the result is that there are limited overtaking opportunities and unstable traffic flow regimes along the existing N26. It is considered that the existing N26 is economically inefficient and detracts from the development and growth of the region.
WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW
The N26 Foxford to Mount Falcon Project has completed Stage 1 of Phase 2 ‘Options Selection’ of the TII Project Management Guidelines.
Stage 1 of the Options Selection considers identified constraints and the feedback received following Public Consultation 1 (held in November 2024) to develop a range of preliminary corridor options within the Study Area. The preliminary corridor options were assessed under three criteria; Engineering, Environment and Economy, and a shortlist identified to proceed to Stage 2 of the Options Selection process. This shortlist comprises several ‘Route Corridor Options’ as shown in the brochure.
Mayo County Council now invite residents, locals, stakeholders, the public and interested parties to participate in this second non-statutory public consultation running between Wednesday 30th April to Friday 16th May 2025. The aim is to receive your feedback and views on the Route Corridor Options. Your participation in this consultation is important and we value any feedback given to the project team that may assist and help inform the project. We request that your feedback be submitted by Friday 16th May 2025 and we have provided feedback forms for this purpose.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Over the coming months, the project team will review the submissions received as part of Stage 2 of the Option Selection Phase. Further and more detailed environmental studies will be carried out including walkover surveys and ground investigation over the next months. These studies will be used to progress the Scheme through the Option Selection Phase, which involves a detailed assessment of the Route Corridor Options under the following criteria in accordance with the TII Project Management Guidelines and the Department of Transport’s Transport Appraisal Framework.
Accessibility
Safety
Social
Climate Change
Land Use
Local Environment
Stage 2 of the Option Selection process will identify a Preferred Option which will be displayed at a future Public Consultation. The Project Team then develop the design in more detail, undertaking additional environmental and technical surveys to continuously avoid, reduce and mitigate any potential impacts on the receiving environment. The process will culminate in the publication of the Statutory Orders and the applicable Environmental Reports in accordance with the relevant legislation for the development consent process.
PUBLIC CONSULTATION ROADMAP
This is the second non-statutory public consultation of the project and focuses on the shortlisted Route Corridor Options. Further non statutory Public Consultations are expected in late 2025 on the Preferred Option Corridor as shown within the roadmap below.
Your participation in this consultation is important and we would value any feedback which you think should be reviewed by the project team to help inform the development of the project.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Mayo County Council and the Project Team want to hear your views on the Route Corridor Options. Your feedback is important as it can provide valuable information to the project team as they undertake a detailed assessment of the Route Corridor Options and identify the Preferred Option for the project. This second non-statutory public consultation for the project is running between Wednesday 30th April and Friday 16th May 2025.
Virtual Public Consultation Room is available at: www.n26foxfordtomountfalcon.ie
Once you have reviewed the project information and the mapping of the Route Corridor Options, please complete and return the consultation feedback form to the Project Team by 11pm on Friday 16th May 2025 by:
Post: Project Engineer, N26 Foxford to Mount Falcon, Mayo National Roads Office, Glenpark House, The Mall, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, F23 XF40
Digitally: Using the digital feedback form provided in the public consultation information room at: www.n26foxfordtomountfalcon.ie and also accessible using the QR codes below.
N26 Foxford to Mount Falcon - Route Corridor Options
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Mayo County Council in partnership with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the Department of Transport are developing the N26 Foxford to Mount Falcon Project. Mayo County Council has appointed RPS Consulting Engineers as Technical Advisors to progress the Planning and Design for the Project.
The N26 national primary road is a strategic corridor which provides important access to North Mayo, linking Ballina, the second largest town in County Mayo, with Foxford and Swinford towns and the N5 corridor.
The section of the N26 under consideration in this project, the N26 Foxford to Mount Falcon Project, is located immediately south of a previous improvement of the N26 within the townland of Drumrevagh at Mount Falcon and extends south to Foxford. The Study Area is approximately 8km long.
This section of the existing N26 traverses rural countryside. The existing road has restricted capacity due to its limited width and partially sub-standard alignment. There are no existing facilities for non-motorised users along this section of the N26. Vehicles travelling at high speeds, combined with the lack of hard shoulders or suitable verge widths make the road unsuitable for pedestrian and cyclist use.
When these elements are considered in conjunction with the high number of junctions and private accesses located on the existing road, the result is that there are limited overtaking opportunities and unstable traffic flow regimes along the existing N26. It is considered that the existing N26 is economically inefficient and detracts from the development and growth of the region.
WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW
The N26 Foxford to Mount Falcon Project has completed Stage 1 of Phase 2 ‘Options Selection’ of the TII Project Management Guidelines.
Stage 1 of the Options Selection considers identified constraints and the feedback received following Public Consultation 1 (held in November 2024) to develop a range of preliminary corridor options within the Study Area. The preliminary corridor options were assessed under three criteria; Engineering, Environment and Economy, and a shortlist identified to proceed to Stage 2 of the Options Selection process. This shortlist comprises several ‘Route Corridor Options’ as shown in the brochure.
Mayo County Council now invite residents, locals, stakeholders, the public and interested parties to participate in this second non-statutory public consultation running between Wednesday 30th April to Friday 16th May 2025. The aim is to receive your feedback and views on the Route Corridor Options. Your participation in this consultation is important and we value any feedback given to the project team that may assist and help inform the project. We request that your feedback be submitted by Friday 16th May 2025 and we have provided feedback forms for this purpose.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Over the coming months, the project team will review the submissions received as part of Stage 2 of the Option Selection Phase. Further and more detailed environmental studies will be carried out including walkover surveys and ground investigation over the next months. These studies will be used to progress the Scheme through the Option Selection Phase, which involves a detailed assessment of the Route Corridor Options under the following criteria in accordance with the TII Project Management Guidelines and the Department of Transport’s Transport Appraisal Framework.
Stage 2 of the Option Selection process will identify a Preferred Option which will be displayed at a future Public Consultation. The Project Team then develop the design in more detail, undertaking additional environmental and technical surveys to continuously avoid, reduce and mitigate any potential impacts on the receiving environment. The process will culminate in the publication of the Statutory Orders and the applicable Environmental Reports in accordance with the relevant legislation for the development consent process.
PUBLIC CONSULTATION ROADMAP
This is the second non-statutory public consultation of the project and focuses on the shortlisted Route Corridor Options. Further non statutory Public Consultations are expected in late 2025 on the Preferred Option Corridor as shown within the roadmap below.
Your participation in this consultation is important and we would value any feedback which you think should be reviewed by the project team to help inform the development of the project.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Mayo County Council and the Project Team want to hear your views on the Route Corridor Options. Your feedback is important as it can provide valuable information to the project team as they undertake a detailed assessment of the Route Corridor Options and identify the Preferred Option for the project. This second non-statutory public consultation for the project is running between Wednesday 30th April and Friday 16th May 2025.
Virtual Public Consultation Room is available at: www.n26foxfordtomountfalcon.ie
Once you have reviewed the project information and the mapping of the Route Corridor Options, please complete and return the consultation feedback form to the Project Team by 11pm on Friday 16th May 2025 by:
Post: Project Engineer, N26 Foxford to Mount Falcon, Mayo National Roads Office, Glenpark House, The Mall, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, F23 XF40
Digitally: Using the digital feedback form provided in the public consultation information room at: www.n26foxfordtomountfalcon.ie and also accessible using the QR codes below.
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