Galway Bay fm newsroom – The NPWS has made a committment to examine sections of the N59 in a bid to reach agreement on the long-awaited upgrade of the road.
It follows a high level meeting between senior officials at Galway County Council and representatives from the state agency.
The finger has long been pointed at the NPWS for persistent and lengthy delays on what’s frequently been described as the worst national road in Ireland.
An Bord Pleanala refused permission in May for the long-awaited upgrade to the N59 between Maam Cross and Clifden due to environmental concerns.
However, permission has been granted for the upgrade of the road between Oughterard and Maam Cross with strict conditions – this section was the subject of a recent meeting between County Council officials and the NPWS.
The state agency has now agreed to examine parts of the route in a bid to reach an agreement on method statements and chart a way forward for upgrade works.
They’ll be focusing on the stretch from Maam Cross to Bunnakill in particular – and are set to return to the table in two to three weeks with clarifications.
Meanwhile, the County Council says it is currently examining the reasons for the refusal of the N59 from Maam Cross to Clifden – and is assessing the best way forward.
Director of Services Liam Gavin says due to the potential infringement of areas designated as SAC, some stretches of the road may not be widened as planned.