The Galway City Ring Road will see a massive reduction in traffic congestion in the city centre, and travel times cut by more than 40 per cent; or it will see even greater levels of traffic clog our roads and drastically increase Galway’s carbon emissions.
There has been a divided reaction among Galway politicians to An Bord Pleanála's decision to grant planning permission to the ring road. However, the decision means the project can now advance to the next stages, including land and property purchase - which will involve the demolition of family homes - detailed design, enabling works, the procurement of a contractor, and the main construction phase.
The Galway County Council, Galway City Council, and Transport Infrastructure Ireland welcomed ABP’s decision, but acknowledged that possible legal challenges could yet arise, and that this could have an impact on the construction timelines for the road.
.
Green Party councillor, Niall Murphy, said it remained to be seen if ring road will pass the climate impact assessments called for in the National Development Plan. "That will be a necessary step before it can be funded," he said.
The GCRR will run from the existing R336 Coast Road, west of Bearna, and tie-in with the existing N6 at Coolagh Junction. From Barna to the Ballymoneen Road Junction, the GCRR will be a single carriageway road, and will then continue as a dual carriageway to the Coolagh Junction. The total area within the footprint of the proposed development boundary is 280 hectares.
The works are estimated to cost €600 million - although Independent Galway West TD, Noel Grealish has warned these costs could escalate, while People Before Profit Galway has said the final bill could result in €1 billion.
The next phase
.
There is now an eight week “stand still period” to allow for appeals to be made. The project will also be assessed under the Government’s Public Spending Code, and a Government decision will then be required in advance of the project progressing, subject to any appeals to the
“It is estimated that the final detailed design and tendering will take approximately 18 - 24 months,” a statement from the three bodies said. “Some of this work can be progressed immediately and will run in parallel with any legal challenge. Once final approval for the scheme is received and a contractor is appointed, the main construction contract is expected to take 36 months.”
.
Fine Gael senator, Sean Kyne. Photo:- Tom Burke
There has been a sharply divided reaction to ABP’s decision. The Galway local authorities argue the ring road will see a reduction of 7,300 car trips in the city centre per day; a 38 per cent decrease in heavy goods vehicles in the city centre during peak times; and a 43 per cent less delay across the city network thereby improving access to key services.
Fine Gael senator Seán Kyne called it “a momentous day for Galway city and county” that will “free up space in the city” for greater levels of public transport measures. People Before Profit Galway representative, Adrian Curran, called it “an appalling decision at odds with the reality of the climate and biodiversity crisis we are in”.
.
Cllr Niall Murphy [pictured above] said the ring road “will encourage more housing far west of the city” and “all these homes will be car dependent”.
“Some of their journeys will use the new road but they will also drive to the city and to schools and generally increase traffic on all routes,” he said. “This type of development runs contrary to the Galway City Development Plan the council is working on to deliver a ‘15 minute city’. A €600 million euro ring road files in the face of those goals."
