A total of €31.7 million has been allocated to the Galway city and county councils for repairs, maintenance, and improvements to the city and county road network.
The funding provides for ongoing maintenance, rehabilitative works, strategic improvements, and specific road changes to enhance road safety and quality. The grants are to supplement local authorities’ own resources and expenditure on regional and local roads.
Among the specific grants for improvements in the city are €150,000 for work on the Salmon Weir Bridge; €70,000 for the bridge on Mill Street; €40,000 for Wolfe Tone Bridge; €140,000 for safety improvements on Maunsells Road; and €41,000 for the junction of Shangort Road and Ballymoneen Road in Knocknacarra.
In the county, €420,000 has been allocated for works on the Dunkellin River Bridge; €300,000 for work on Derratha Road in Connemara; €300,000 for the R332 at Kilbannon; €15,000 for the Athenry Relief Road; €400,000 for bridge rehabilitation work, including Bolagh Bridge at Woodford.
The funding has been welcomed by Fine Gael Galway West TD Hildegarde Naughton, who said the subsequent works would result in “an appreciable improvement” in road quality and safety in the coming year.
She pointed out that local authorities face “ongoing and recurring challenges” in road maintenance and upkeep. “The recent extreme weather conditions is a reminder of the unpredictable factors that impact on our road network,” she said. “This funding is intended to provide for such eventualities.”
Galway East TD and Minister of State for Rural and Community Development, Seán Canney, also welcomed the funding. “The funding represents an increase of nearly €6 million on last year’s allocation,” he said. “I am also anticipating further funding for roads that do not fall under the jurisdiction of Galway County Council by way of the Local Improvement Scheme. That allocation will be announced shortly by the Department of Rural and Community Development.”
