Mixed reaction to Galway city ring road proposal

A lukewarm reaction greeted the Galway City ring road proposal from County Hall on Monday afternoon.

The new ring road which is hoped to ease the city's chronic congestion conundrum, is estimated to cost in the region of €593 million.

It is hoped planning permission will be granted by mid 2018 with a start date of 2020.

The presentation was welcomed by most members of the chamber but the budget, planning permission, the start date of the project, and the location of the ring road were highlighted as issues of concern.

Cllr Thomas Welby spoke of the importance of getting the project "over the line".

The Independent councillor said: "I am totally supportive of this project. It is probably our last shot at this. If we do not get this over the line, firstly, there will be no will to go back again and secondly, we are running out of ground as the city expands. If we do not get this project we are in trouble because there is no Plan B."

Loughrea councillor Michael Fahy said it was of vital importance the plan would go ahead. "We are fortunate in Galway that we have American jobs and it is our job to keep the jobs here. It is important that there is no objection after An Bord Pleanála gives the go ahead."

Cllr Donagh Killilea welcomed the project but also had reservations about "stumbling blocks' that could delay the project. "There is significant progress made. As a council we should acknowledge the hard work that Michael Timmins and the late Liam Gavin have done. We, the county council, have the foresight to drive this forward.

"But are there stumbling blocks that will stop and delay the project? How well prepared are we for a legal route?"

Cllr Jim Cuddy had doubts over the location of the bypass. "I still have reservations on its positioning. I believe it too close to the city and if it was moved out further, it would cost less. I think €593 million is a lot of money.

"I believe there is no good reason why it should not been moved out. We should be thinking of Galway over the next 30 years not the next 10 years."

 

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