The Galway City Bypass is not a project under threat or one that will fail to materialise at it “remains a high priority of the Government”, according to Fine Gael Galway West TD Brian Walsh.
Dep Walsh this week rubbished doubts which had been expressed in some quarters over whether the major road project would go ahead, saying the Government and the National Roads Authority remain “fully supportive” of the project and will “not delay in progressing the project if the An Bord Pleanála’s decision is upheld” in the European Court of Justice.
The decision by ABP to grant permission for the proposed €317 million bypass has been the subject of a legal challenge and the matter was recently referred to the ECJ for a preliminary ruling on matters concerning EU Law.
“I have received a firm commitment from the Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar that the project remains a top priority,” said Dep Walsh. “I also have it in writing from the chief executive of the NRA that the importance of the scheme is undiminished and its objective remains to deliver the bypass as quickly as possible.”
According to Dep Walsh, during the recent Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting, the Taoiseach and several of his ministers experienced the traffic gridlock in Galway.
“The Government needs no convincing,” said Dep Walsh. “An Taoiseach was in Galway to make an announcement in Parkmore and it took him over an hour to cross the Quincenntenial Bridge – and he had the benefit of a Garda escort.”
Dep Walsh said the delivery of the outer bypass is his “top priority in terms of transport infrastructure” and “I know the Government will not be found wanting should we get the green light to proceed from the courts.”
