Iconic Connemara road can’t be widened – because verges are areas of conservation

One of Galway’s busiest tourist roads is to have its speed limit slashed – because there is no scope to widen it, as the route has now been classified as running through an area of conservation.

The designation means that work cannot be carried out on the side of the Maam Cross to Clifden road – the main artery through north Connemara – and because of its narrow width, the only other safety option was to cut the speed limit.

The reduction on stretches of the road has already caused consternation among motorists – particularly as many of these areas are sparsely populated.

But there are now fears that once the speed limits are reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h, less money will be required to be spent on the N69 Galway to Clifden road from Maam Cross.

It is also claimed that the reduction of the speed limits is cynical way to ‘cover up’ a litany of neglect and poor judgement that has taken place along this road over the years.

Cllr Seamus Walsh believes that the decision of the Duchas, the Heritage Service at the time, to designate large portions of this road as Special Areas of Conservation has ‘come back to haunt’ the people of Connemara.

The Oughterard councillor, an engineer by profession, said that this decision was never appealed by the National Roads Authority and now the people of Connemara are left with speed reductions on a prime tourist route.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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