Anger over state of Western Distributor Road

A city councillor has blasted the City Council over the state of the Western Distributor Road in the wake of recent roadworks.

Cllr Colette Connolly said she was appalled at the quality of the roadworks and has written to the Director of Services Joe O’Neill to ask for action to be taken.

Cllr Connolly said she had received numerous representations from residents, and had contacted City Hall to complain about the works being carried out.

“Galway City Council maintain the works are being done to improve road safety for motorists and are NRA approved, but in fact because of the uneven application of the surface works particularly on the cycle lanes there is a risk to the health and safety of all road users,” she pointed out.

Cllr Connolly said she had walked the road and found the inconsistency of the application of the resurfacing inexplicable.

“In some areas it covers the cycle lane as it does on the approach to the Athy roundabout but not in other areas.  No machine was used to roll over and embed the surfacing leaving it to motorists to do it over time, which is totally unacceptable.

“Residents have tar on their tyres, which they are carrying home onto their driveways. This cannot be acceptable as motorists pay enough in taxes and insurance and should at least have the expectation that works will be carried out to a very high standard and that Galway City Council will ensure that this is so.”

Cllr Connolly said the most dangerous threat was that posed by the loose stone strewn everywhere on both sides of the cycle lanes making this a threat to the health and safety of cyclists and other all road users.

She said immediate action needed to be taken.