The
N59 road is a
national secondary road in
Ireland. It commences in
County Sligo, south of
Sligo Town at the Belladrehid interchange with the
N4 north of
Ballysadare. The route circles around the west of Ireland, passing west from Sligo into
County Mayo and through
Ballina. The N59 continues around Mayo, proceeding indirectly to
Westport. Continuing south through Mayo into
County Galway, the road passes through the village of
Leenaun. The 182 year-old bridge in the centre of the village, carrying the road across the River Lahill, collapsed in floods on 18 July 2007. Due to the local terrain and road network, the diversionary route for getting from the south of the village to Westport was 110 km long. A temporary bridge was opened eight days after the floods, on 27 July. It has since been replaced by a new bridge.
South of Leenaun, the N59 proceeds southwest through
Connemara to
Clifden. From there, it returns east through
Maam Cross and to
Oughterard, from which it proceeds southeast to
Galway city. The N59 ends at a junction with the
N6 at
Quincentenary Bridge. Top Gear Magazine has called this road one of "the world's greatest roads".
Road Length (2006)
Infrastructural Upgrades
Co. MayoBallina Orbital Route ProjectThe objective of the Ballina Orbital Route Project is to provide an orbital link around the town connecting all existing and future National Primary and National Secondary Roads, all existing Regional Roads and all existing Local...
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