Motorists are being warned of possible traffic delays caused by a stop/go system at Lough Atalia bridge to facilitate site investigations ahead of a major road lowering project due to begin next January.
Lane closures and a stop/go traffic system were put in place yesterday and will remain until Friday September 19. The site investigation, which began on Monday, will help assess soil conditions for the full project which will see the lowering of Lough Atalia Road under the railway bridge. The project had been due to commence this month but is now planned to begin in the first week of January.
However, during Monday’s Galway City Council meeting councillors urged the executive to consider postponing the start date of the full project to at least January 15 to lessen the impact on businesses during the sales which would bring even more traffic into the city.
Cllr Declan McDonnell (Ind ) warned that lowering the road under Lough Atalia Bridge in the first week of January was “not ideal for businesses” and should be pushed back. “This is the main access into the city for traffic during the sales,” he said.
In response, director of services, Billy Dunne, said that he would come back with a full traffic management plan and would investigate if the commencement date could be pushed back.
Cllr Niall McNelis (Lab ) also urged the executive to consider erecting signs in other parts of the city, in particular Knocknacarra, to warn motorists of potential traffic delays and diversions so they can take alternative routes.
The lowering of the road beneath the Lough Atalia railway bridge will allow heavy goods vehicles to pass underneath without having to use the middle of the road. Overall, the works are expected to cost in the region of €750,000 to complete. The Lough Atalia bridge is a protected structure which has been struck eight times by high sided vehicles since 2008. 4
