N26 Ballina to Bohola - Stage 1 at Carrowntreila Aerial Image

Length of Project: 4.7 km

Carriageway Type: Single Carriageway (2 x 3.75m carriageways, 2 x 3m hardshoulders and 2 x 3m verges) Diagram

Current Status of the Scheme: Phase 7 - Closeout

2007 Grant Allocation: €348,000.

2008 Grant Allocation: €118,246.

This Project is funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2007 - 2013 and part financed by the European Union.

Introduction:

In July 1998 the NRA published the NRA National Road Needs Study. The N26 Stage 1 was identified as needing improvement by 2004 and that the road should be a standard 2-lane with hard shoulder cross section. The current Mayo County Development Plan 2003-2009 has in its transportation policy the objective to commence construction of the N26 Stage1. The Ireland National Development Plan 2000-2006 has identified the N26 as requiring further major improvements, as part of its development strategy for national primary and national secondary roads. The Government's policy in the National Development Plan is to provide a high quality of service on the national road network. The National Spatial Strategy 2002-2020 recognises the need to provide good quality road and public transport connections between Dublin, Galway, Mayo and Sligo and identifies 2 strategic radial corridors and 1 strategic linking corridor within County Mayo. These corridors will assist in promoting development within the West Region between the Gateways of Galway, Sligo and Athlone and the linked Hub of Castlebar and Ballina. The N26 Stage 1 is a fundamental element of this strategy. Transport 21 is a government sponsored policy which seeks to provide an integrated solution to Ireland's current and evolving transport needs that will underpin the country's competitiveness, promote balanced regional growth and enhance the quality of life for generations to come. It has identified a number of national routes for development and includes the N26. The old N26 roadway consisted of a single lane carriageway with an average width of 6.6 metres with no hard shoulders. The alignment was generally below minimum design standard. In the townlands of Carrowntreila and Ballyhiernaun, the road alignment both vertically and horizontally was very substandard with severe curves. The old road was constructed for the most part on poor subgrade and was deficient in pavement strength and profile. A considerable section of the road was either on bog rampart or shallower peat deposits. There were over 100 accesses/junctions along this section of road The access visibility and kerb radii of these junctions were generally substandard. The grades and visibility of individual accesses particularly in Carrowntreila townland are also very substandard. The pavement construction was also inadequate.

Progress to Date:

Project Planning (Phase 1 to Phase 4)

The Compulsory Purchase Order for the project was signed in January 2000.A Public Inquiry was held in Ballina in January 2001 to hear any objections in relation to the Compulsory Purchase Order. An Bord Pleanála approved the project in February 2002.

Detailed Design & Construction (Phase 5 to Phase 7)

Following approval of the CPO by An Bord Pleanála, notices to enter and notices to treat were issued to all landowners in September 2002. Advanced works for Temporary Fencing, Tree Felling, Archaeology and Ecology were carried out during 2002 and 2003. The detailed design and tender stage for the main contract continued through the same period. The main contract was awarded to Noel Regan and Sons (Plant Hire) Ltd. and work commenced on the project in October 2003. The road was opened to traffic in December 2004.

Please click image 1 , 2 for an aerial view of the N26 Stage 1

Contact Information:

If you have any queries or comments to make in relation to the above project, if you require further information or if you wish to make an appointment please contact the following;

Pat Staunton,
Executive Engineer,
Mayo National Roads Design Office,
Mayo County Council,
Glenparke House,
The Mall,
Castlebar,
County Mayo.

Phone: (094) 9038130, Fax: 094 9034525

Opening hours are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Publications:

N26 Stage 1 Road Opening Brochure (paper copy): Please contact us and we will post one to you.

Other Relevant Information:

If you have an interest in other aspects of road planning or construction click here to view some of the publications contained within this website. Alternatively, you can visit the National Roads Authority Website to view their comprehensive library of publications.

Archaeology:

Please click here for an archaeological report for N26 Stage 1.