The objections of almost 300 groups and individuals to the proposed €600 million ring road around Galway city will be heard from Tuesday morning when an oral hearing into the project will open at the g Hotel.
The hearing which will run for up to three weeks will see the Galway County Council project team, which is developing the scheme on behalf of itself and Galway City Council, present the case for the 18km road.
The project will also include a new bridge and viaduct over the river Corrib, two short tunnels on the city’s east side, the demolition of 44 houses and the acquisition of 10 more houses which would be seriously impacted by the development.
More than 300 objections from groups and home and business owners have been lodged with An Bord Pleanála in connection with the ring road around Galway city which planners say is essential to ease chronic traffic congestion in the city.
The objections are linked to both the proposed development and the compulsory purchase of dozens of houses which need to be demolished for the project to proceed.
The hearing will open with an outline of the proposals and a list of the responses received. A full list of participants comprising homeowners and interest groups and their allotted time slots for outlining their concerns is published on the An Bord Pleanala website.
Much of the focus of the hearing is likely to be on its impact on traffic congestion and pollution in the city, as well as the perceived disruption the demolitions will have on householders and businesses.
