Galway City Council considers up to 14 cycle routes

Up to 14 routes – split almost evenly between the east and west sides of the city – have been earmarked for major revamps to accommodate more cycle and pedestrian traffic over the coming years.

According to a report presented to the City Council, there is existing funding of €5.8 million to progress the design stages of the schemes.

In a report presented by City Council Senior Executive Engineer, Colm Ó Ríordáin, he also outlined that there was ‘proposed funding’ of €24m for the tender and construction stages of the projects.

This ‘proposed funding’ would be sourced evenly between the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) and the National Transport Authority (NTA).

In a separate report by Atkins Consultants, they outlined six routes on the east side of the city which had been earmarked for adaption to facilitate better cycle and pedestrian facilities.

Those routes are: Ballybane Road, Doughiska Road (north), Doughiska Road (south), Ballyloughane Road, Castlepark Road and Monivea Road.

On the Ballybane Road, it is proposed to reduce the existing road carriageway from 10 metres to six metres with a two-metre raised cycle lane on either side as well as two-metre footpath.

Roadways are also to be narrowed on the two Doughiska routes with raised cycle lanes to be provided on either side of the road.

Ballyloughane will be a ‘shared street’ for bikes and vehicular traffic with footpaths widened to two metres on either side.

Raised cycle tracks will be provided on either side of a narrowed carriageway on the Castlepark Road with a similar set-up envisaged for the Monivea Road.

The Atkins report envisages construction works to begin on the Ballybane Road, Doughiska Road (south), Ballyloughane Road and Castle Park Road segments to begin by the end of this year or in the first quarter of 2021.

A Part 8 planning process will be required for Doughiska Road (north) and Monivea Road segments of the project.

Consultants Clifton Scannell Emerson Associates, presented the Galway Cycle Network Stage 2 to councillors outlining the cycle plans for the west side of the city.

The routes as outlined are: Clybaun Road, Bóthair Stíofáin, Bishop O’Donnell Road, Threadneedle Road, Dr Mannix Road, Devon Park, Salthill Road as well as the Eglinton Canal.

On the Clybaun Road, the existing carriageway will be narrowed with grass margins installed, while on Bótháir Stíofáin, the road will also be narrowed with more with a new cycle lane provided as well as footpaths on either side.

Cycle tracks are to be provided on either side of a narrowed Bishop O’Donnell Road with a similar arrangement to apply on Dr Mannix Road.

Better pedestrian facilities are to be provided at Devon Park while the Salthill Road will be narrowed from over 10 metres to six metres with wider paths and landscaping provided. Improvements are also to be made at the Eglinton Canal crossing at New Road.