Major improvement for Galway’s road network on back of €3.5m grant

By Declan Tierney

A significant grant of almost €3.5 million has been allocated to County Galway for essential roads resurfacing as some stretches have fallen into a serious state of disrepair over the years.

It is a major allocation considering that Galway County Council have been strapped for cash when it comes to carrying out repairs to minor roads. 

The funds allocation are for a number of major resurfacing projects around the county and it is expected that the monies will be spent before the end of the year.

Director of Services for Roads and Transportation, Frank Gilmore admitted that it was significantly more than was expected and welcomed the allocation.

A number of the bigger allocations will be spent in areas like Kiltormer, Moneymore near Oranmore, Belclare and Prospect in Athenry and all of these involve major resurfacing works.

Cllr. Michael Finnerty in Ballinasloe said that the funds were much needed as many roads were disintegrating as there was a lack of funds in recent years to carry out essential repairs.

The grant allocation of just over €3.4 million was allocated by the Department of Transport and some of the works include some road safety schemes.

“Some of the roads which are being allocated funding have fallen into a desperate state of repair and are on the verge of disintegrating completely. Hopefully the works will also provide some additional employment in the process”, Cllr. Finnerty added.

He said that it was vital that funding of this magnitude was allocated on an annual basis as it was not good economics to allow minor roads to fall into a serious state of disrepair.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.