City Council is slated for leaving locals in the dark

City officials were last night accused of failing to consult with local residents and businesses regarding the temporary closure of a bridge at Lough Atalia Road which could have a “devastating” impact on their lives.

Councillors refused to give full approval to the plan to improve the bridge until they are given a traffic management plan for the project and officials hold a consultation evening with locals who will be affected by the closure.

“This doesn’t just affect the harbour, it affects the entire city,” said Cllr Declan McDonnell (Independent). “On numerous occasions we have pointed out that consultation is crucial. We have asked in the past that, where businesses will be affected, that the Council would consult with those people.

“It did not happen in this case and people were not consulted in the proper manner. There are people and jobs affected.”

He said a fire in the docks area last Friday week, which effectively brought the city to a standstill for four hours, showed the impact which a road closure in the docklands area could have on Galway.

The proposed Part Eight development, to lower the road under the railway bridge in order to accommodate HGVs (heavy goods vehicles), will not now be voted upon by the members of the local authority until the end of this month.

In presenting the local authority’s plans for the protected structure, Director of Services Billy Dunne said the bridge was currently not of a suitable height for articulated lorries.

He said the plan to lower the road under the railway bridge would involve a road closure for at least two months.

The City Manager, Brendan McGrath, said the plan would make the road safer for all users. At present, large trucks have to pull into the centre of the road in order to pass under the bridge.

Mr McGrath said the project would cost €750,000 and would also facilitate the planned growth of Galway Harbour to accommodate larger vessels.

“It is not an easy solution, but it is a very important and necessary development and it needs to happen,” he said. “We should have gone and spoken to the local councillors in the area. With hindsight, there should have been more consultation.”

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.