Delegation urges upgrade of ‘forgotten’ Curragh Line

Galway’s ‘forgotten road’ – the N84 Curragh Line which links the city to Headford and Shrule – must be prioritised as a matter of urgency for upgrading by the transport authorities, according to a local councillor.

Cllr Mary Hoade (FF) said that she had met Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jack Chambers this week, to show him at first hand the problems along a stretch of road on which 13,000 vehicles a day travel from Headford and South Mayo to Galway City.

“Anyone who travels along the Headford Road will know full well the traffic chaos that can ensue even if a relatively minor incident occurs on the N84.

“On most of the route, there is simply nowhere for cars to go if one of the lanes gets blocked up. This road is not fit for purpose and yet it’s not appearing on any priority list from the roads authorities for upgrading,” Cllr Hoade told the Connacht Tribune.

She said that she was encouraged that Minister Chambers had come down to Headford to see at first hand the transport issues and problems which existed in the link between South Mayo/Headford and Galway City.

“As well as a major upgrade of this route, there are a number of other transport issues that must be addressed. Headford is an ideal location for a Park & Ride service with a proper and comprehensive bus link to Galway City.

“There have been suggestions of putting a Park & Ride centre on the Headford Road close to Galway City but that does not make any sense. If someone drives that far from Headford or South Mayo, then in all probability they’ll keep going to their actual destination. The place to put the park-and-ride is in Headford,” she said.

Cllr Hoade said that schoolchildren from the Headford area were now being transported to Shrule to catch the bus service for Galway. “Often by the time the bus reaches Headford, it’s full,” she said.

“In terms of transport issues in Galway this N84 link is a forgotten road. It’s long past time that it was moved up on the priority list on a number of fronts including the road itself, the provision of a Park & Ride facility in Headford, and the putting in place of a far better bus service/link,” said Cllr Hoade.

(Photo: Minister of State at the Dept of Transport, Jack Chambers (centre) who met with local representatives Senator Ollie Crowe; Helena McElmeel, Headford Community Organisation; Cllr Mary Hoade and Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, to discuss issues relating to the N84 route).