Council warns of chaos on Galway City’s roads for August

Galway road users are being advised to plan their journeys in advance this month in order to avoid the kind of traffic chaos which has brought the city to a standstill during the month of August in recent years.

City officials are to issue an advisory notice this week which will warn motorists of the dangers of getting caught up in traffic snarl ups during the month which has been traditionally the most problematic on Galway’s roads.

Officials believe that certain factors such holiday makers visiting the city during the peak tourist season, third level students seeking accommodation, parents on the ‘back to school run’, and families escaping rainy days can lead to a ‘perfect storm’ in Galway on August afternoons.

Ironically, the huge tailbacks experienced in August 2010 and 2011 have come at times when there is less commuter traffic than normal and the streets can be clear of traffic in the early mornings.

“August is probably the most difficult month in terms of traffic and transport,” said Director of Services Ciaran Hayes at the weekend. “Although the peak festival season has come to an end, traffic can be very, very heavy this month.

“There seems to be a significant change to normal routes and travel patterns, particularly after the Leaving Certificate results come out, and students and their families come to the city in search of accommodation.”

Although the roads are very quiet during the early mornings, when many Galwegians are on holidays, Mr Hayes said there can be a significant build-up of traffic from 12 noon onwards as people either hit for the city centre when it’s raining or the Salthill beaches on sunny days.

“Between the third level students, holiday traffic, and ‘back to school’ shopping, you tend to get a ‘perfect storm’ on certain days,” said Mr Hayes.

With work recommencing on the removal of the Bodkin Roundabout on the Headford Road this morning, Mr Hayes said it was important that motorists should plan their journeys in advance.

He urged those who were seeking accommodation or back to school items to come into the city centre in the early mornings, in order to avoid the big build-up in traffic which tends to occur after 12 noon in August.

Read more in today’s Connacht Sentinel