City Council to have another go at solving junction issue

Plans to ‘have another go’ at removing Kirwan roundabout are back on the agenda, the local authority has confirmed.

A previous proposal to remove the roundabout at Menlo Park Hotel on the Headford Road faced huge opposition and was voted down by Galway City Councillors.

But management at Galway City Council has confirmed that plans are progressing to appoint consultants to come up with fresh ideas on how best to remove the roundabout, taking all concerns on board.

The Council is in discussion with the National Roads Authority (NRA), to determine if it has capacity to carry out design work in-house. If the NRA doesn’t, then the Council will put the job out to tender. A decision is imminent.

“We are in discussions with the NRA about this at present, and we expect to make a decision on this within the next three weeks,” the Council said in a statement.

A spokesperson said the design work on the proposals hasn’t commenced yet, contrary to rumours locally.

“This is about how we are going to deal with Kirwan Roundabout. That roundabout is part of the N6 multi-modal corridor scheme and we are going to take a fresh look at our options there, including removing it.

“I don’t think anyone is in love with the roundabout . . . It’s just that I don’t think people were in love with the previous proposals to remove it. Consultants will look again at the design options,” the spokesperson said.

It is understood that a five-arm junction could be included in whatever proposals the consultants come up with.

Consultants could report back by the end of this year, and ultimately it would have to be passed by a vote of elected members through the Part 8 planning process.

A majority of Councillors voted to remove the roundabout but under sustained pressure from local residents and businesses, a majority subsequently voted down the project.

Around 900 objections to the removal of the roundabout were submitted to the Council as part of the public consultation process.

There were concerns raised that the design was unsuitable, particularly for motorists turning right onto the Headford Road from Menlo using a new link road. They also argued that the design would encourage more ‘rat-runs’ on the Dyke Road. Businesses argued the design of the proposed new junction would impact on the local economy.

The city’s mayor, Councillor Frank Fahy this week said he would look at the designs being brought forward by consultants but would only vote in favour of a solution that was acceptable to residents and local businesses.