The planned N5 Turlough to Westport road, expected to cost €241 million, should be scrapped, and that money instead invested into cycling and greenway infrastructure, bus networks, and rail services throughout Connacht.
This is the view of the Social Democrats Galway City East councillor, Owen Hanley, who has called on the Minister for Transport, Shane Ross, to scrap the proposed road, saying it would "do nothing more than turn a 20 minute car journey into a 15 minute one".
He said that instead of "pumping hundreds of millions into unnecessary roads", the Cabinet should support "efficient and cost-effective investment" into public transport in the west of Ireland.
Cllr Hanley said Galway "is in desperate need" of major investment into "safe, connected, and segregated cycle lanes". While acknowledging that Mayo has been "overlooked" and "deserves investment", he said that splitting the €250 million across rail, bus, cycling, and accessibility access across Connacht "would see a much greater return in terms of faster transport, better quality of life, and climate action".
