Trips around the west could be much easier.
Cabinet are set to consider a new plan for a €600 million ring road to be built around Galway city.
As reported by The Irish Times, a memo has stated that the proposed ring road will “reduce congestion in the city by segregating cross-city traffic from urban traffic.”
The proposed route of this new ring road involves a new bridge and viaduct over the River Corrib and two short tunnels to be built on on the city’s east side.
An 18km (11-mile) link between the east and west of the city is also being proposed – this new route would start as a 6km-long single carriageway west of Barna and continue via Ballymoneen Road in Knocknacarra to Letteragh, where it would become a dual carriageway.
The remaining 12km of the dual carriageway section will run through Dangan sports facilities at NUI Galway (NUIG) and cross the river 200m south of Menlo Castle.
The second tunnel is planned to the north of Galway racecourse at Ballybrit and the route then links up with the M6 terminus at Coolagh roundabout.
If these plans come to fruition, they would involve the demolition of 44 houses and 10 more houses to be acquired.
Regarding the 44 houses that face demolition, the majority of them will be from west of the river Corrib at Furrymelia, Letteragh and Bushypark. Areas on the east side of the river near the Headford road and Castlegar, could also be affected.
If Cabinet approve of these plans, Galway County Council will submit the proposed scheme to An Bord Pleanála.
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