Democracy goes out the window on Galway city bypass

Europe will almost certainly be asked to adjudicate on the preferred route for the new Galway city bypass – but whoever makes the decision, it will have nothing to do with our elected Councillors.

Because the county’s Chief Executive Kevin Kelly told County Councillors this week that they have no role in the decision-making process – and there was a “risk” in them even discussing it.

Instead, the project will be progressed by the executive of the City and County Councils in tandem with the National Roads Authority.

And Michael Timmins, senior engineer with Galway County Council, the lead promoter of the N6 Galway City Transport Project, said the likelihood is “pretty high” that the preferred route, when it is chosen in April, will be sent for the EU Commission for an opinion.

The news comes as the deadline for public submissions and observations on the project has been pushed back by a week, to March 6, due to the high level of engagement by landowners and property owners affected.

The original public consultation deadline was to be this Friday, but consultants have been inundated with requests for meetings with concerned property owners that might be affected.

Controversy has surrounded the bypass plans since the six routes were unveiled last month – the routes could see the demolition of up to 130 family homes, as well as affecting businesses and land, and potentially halting the Galway Races for two years.

See full coverage in this week’s Connacht Tribune – including a first person piece on our traffic problems from the Chief Executives of Galway City and County Council.