A project being delivered by Mayo County Council in association with Galway County Council

About the
Project

Cong is a charming village nestled between the stunning Lough Mask and Lough Corrib, straddling the borders of County Mayo and County Galway. While its rich history and scenic beauty draw thousands of visitors each year, the village also faces challenges due to its narrow winding streets and high traffic volumes.

Currently, up to 100 heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) pass through Cong daily, creating safety concerns and congestion affecting road users, residents and businesses alike. These issues are particularly pronounced during the summer, when the village is bustling with domestic and international tourists.

To address these challenges, Mayo County Council, are proposing to design and construct a relief road that will cross the county boundary and be partially located in County Mayo and County Galway. This new road will provide an alternative route for through traffic without the need to travel into the village centre. This will be particularly effective in diverting the large proportion of HGVs away from the centre and facilitate an improved quality of environment with enhanced safety for those in the village.

Project
Objectives

The Cong Relief Road project aims to:

  • Improve Safety – Enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety by reducing HGV traffic through the village.
  • Protect Heritage and Environment – Minimise impacts on Lough Corrib and reduce environmental and land use disruption.
  • Promote Sustainability – Lower emissions and align with Government environmental and road safety goals.
  • Revitalise Cong Village – Improve air and noise quality, support urban renewal, and boost tourism appeal.
  • Support Community and Accessibility – Facilitate walking, cycling, and social inclusion through reduced traffic volumes.
  • Enhance Road Efficiency – Reduce travel times and improve journey reliability, especially for HGVs.

What happens
Next?

Further environmental studies and site investigation are being carried out which, in conjunction with the public consultation outcome, will be used to progress the scheme through the option selection phase. This involves the options being developed, appraised and evaluated under the following criteria:

Economy – Environment – Safety- Accessibility & Social Inclusion- Integration – Physical Activity

The ultimate goal of this process is to identify the option that best addresses the scheme’s objectives. A further Public Consultation will be held, communicating the preliminary findings of Stage 2 (Project Appraisal Matrix) and presenting the Preferred Option.

Following the Option Selection Phase, the scheme will then be progressed through Preliminary Design, Environmental Impact Assessment, CPO, Planning and the Statutory Processes, subject to the availability of funding.

Following on from this phase of public consultation, a further public consultation will take place upon identification and additional detailing of the Emerging Preferred Route at which time additional feedback can be given. Public submissions will also be possible as part of the subsequent planning process

Cong Relief Road aims

Facilitate walking

reducing
HGVs

reduce travel time

Facilitate Cycling

improve air quality

Lower emissions

Why Your
Say Matters

Mayo County Council are currently at Phase 2 – Option Selection and received extensive feedback as part of the first round of public consultation. This has been taken into consideration along with a wide variety of factors, including heritage and environmental, to identify a number of potential route corridors for the proposed relief road.

We are now seeking further public feedback on these potential options to inform the route option selection process. This consultation provides an opportunity for you to share local knowledge and insights as well as highlight opportunities and constraints relating to the respective options, which will help in identifying the optimal design solution. 

Get in contact

Cong Relief Road

The Project is Currently at Phase 2 – Route Options Selection and we are seeking your feedback to aid in identifying the preferred route corridor.

About the Project

Cong is a charming village nestled between the stunning Lough Mask and Lough Corrib, straddling the borders of County Mayo and County Galway. While its rich history and scenic beauty draw thousands of visitors each year, the village also faces challenges due to its narrow winding streets and high traffic volumes.

Currently, up to 100 heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) pass through Cong daily, creating safety concerns and congestion affecting road users, residents and businesses alike. These issues are particularly pronounced during the summer, when the village is bustling with domestic and international tourists.

To address these challenges, Mayo County Council, are proposing to design and construct a relief road that will cross the county boundary and be partially located in County Mayo and County Galway. This new road will provide an alternative route for through traffic without the need to travel into the village centre. This will be particularly effective in diverting the large proportion of HGVs away from the centre and facilitate an improved quality of environment with enhanced safety for those in the village.

Project Objectives

The Cong Relief Road project aims to:

  • Improve Safety – Enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety by reducing HGV traffic through the village.
  • Protect Heritage and Environment – Minimise impacts on Lough Corrib and reduce environmental and land use disruption.
  • Promote Sustainability – Lower emissions and align with Government environmental and road safety goals.
  • Revitalise Cong Village – Improve air and noise quality, support urban renewal, and boost tourism appeal.
  • Support Community and Accessibility – Facilitate walking, cycling, and social inclusion through reduced traffic volumes.
  • Enhance Road Efficiency – Reduce travel times and improve journey reliability, especially for HGVs.

Project Aims

Facilitate walking

reducing HGVs

reduce travel time

Facilitate Cycling

improve air quality

Lower emissions

What happens Next?

Further environmental studies and site investigation are being carried out which, in conjunction with the public consultation outcome, will be used to progress the scheme through the option selection phase. This involves the options being developed, appraised and evaluated under the following criteria:

Economy – Environment – Safety- Accessibility & Social Inclusion- Integration – Physical Activity

The ultimate goal of this process is to identify the option that best addresses the scheme’s objectives. A further Public Consultation will be held, communicating the preliminary findings of Stage 2 (Project Appraisal Matrix) and presenting the Preferred Option.

Following the Option Selection Phase, the scheme will then be progressed through Preliminary Design, Environmental Impact Assessment, CPO, Planning and the Statutory Processes, subject to the availability of funding.

Following on from this phase of public consultation, a further public consultation will take place upon identification and additional detailing of the Emerging Preferred Route at which time additional feedback can be given. Public submissions will also be possible as part of the subsequent planning process

Why Your Input Matters

Mayo County Council are currently at Phase 2 – Option Selection and received extensive feedback as part of the first round of public consultation. This has been taken into consideration along with a wide variety of factors, including heritage and environmental, to identify a number of potential route corridors for the proposed relief road.

We are now seeking further public feedback on these potential options to inform the route option selection process. This consultation provides an opportunity for you to share local knowledge and insights as well as highlight opportunities and constraints relating to the respective options, which will help in identifying the optimal design solution.

Why Your Input Matters

We are currently in Phase 1 (Concept & Feasibility) of the project, which is set to conclude in early January. Phase 2 (Option Selection) will follow, and your feedback will play a crucial role in shaping this next stage.
This consultation provides an opportunity for you to share local knowledge and insights, which will help us:

Contact

Skip to content