A lack of filter lights is causing intolerable congestion at the Monivea Road-Connolly Avenue traffic lights near Mervue, according to local election candidate Helen Ogbu.
The Labour Party candidate says the Wellpark Road crossroad, already surrounded by Thermo King, the GRETB Training Centre, and Mervue Business Park, will soon have hundreds of Galway City Council staff traversing it when the local authority moves to Crown Square – also facing onto the junction.
“Many of the residents around here work at UHG. There are no buses for them so they must drive, but they can’t physically get their cars out of their homes into the chaos of crossroads traffic, and even when they can, there will be no staff parking left for them at the hospital,” she says.
Local residents are frustrated by the disorderly conditions at the busy box junction, when vast numbers of rush-hour commuters spill out on to the crossroads in cars, on bikes and on foot from local workplaces with no separation of traffic controlled by separate lights or filters. The morning influx is similar.
Ogbu is calling for the installation of additional filter lights specifically for vehicles driving through to Wellpark from Monivea Road, and for vehicles turning right to Connolly Avenue from Wellpark Road. This adjustment would provide clarity and organisation to the traffic flow, reducing congestion and improving efficiency, she claims.
“The Monivea Road-Connolly Avenue junction is crucial for both residential and industrial traffic, including the Mervue Industrial Estate and technology park,” she says. “Council managers also need to consult with their staff about transport to Crown Square. Many get the train into the city and then walk to College Road. If they have to now drive, it’s just more traffic,” she says.
Meanwhile, Ogbu has organised a political symposium next Wednesday, April 17, from 10.30am, at the Menlo Park Hotel. The ‘SHEroes – Promoting Women & Diversity in Politics’ event will be opened by Mayor of Galway, Eddie Hoare (FG ). Guest speakers include former Dublin lord mayor, Councillor Hazel Chu (GP ), Councillor Uruemu Adejinmi (FF ) from Longford, Limerick City’s Councillor Elena Secas (Lab ), and a number of academics and experts.
