Preparations for bypass planning bid on schedule

Preparations for the proposed new city bypass remain on schedule, according to the lead agent driving the project.

Galway County Council has confirmed that the planning application for the new road is on course to be lodged with An Bórd Pleanála in the first quarter of 2016 as planned.

The planning application will include the publication next spring of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs), Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Natura Impact Statement (NIS), said the Council’s Senior Roads Engineer, Michael Timmins.

The route selection report for the bypass was published by consultants ARUP in the past fortnight.

It sets out in great detail the justification for the bypass, and the reasons why the emerging preferred route was selected instead of the other options.

The document, which runs to several thousand pages including meaty appendices, is available online at n6galwaycity.ie and from the Council.

The report remains a draft document because engineers are continuing to ‘tweak’ the emerging preferred route in consultation with residents.

Consultants have sought public feedback on various design options for proposed new junctions in the Barna area. The junctions in question are located west of Cappagh Road.

The public and property owners affected have been asked to submit their preferences for flyovers, staggered junctions, roundabouts or bridges at the junctions. Some options may create cul de sacs, and others will impact on local journey times for residents, while the presence of flyovers could have serious visual impacts.

The public had until Tuesday of last week to make submissions on the Barna junctions.

Consultants will now seek submissions for the public’s preference on the junctions from Cappagh Road to the start of the bypass east of the city and this will be done in tranches, according to Mr Timmins, to include from Cappagh to the N59, from there to Headford Road and from there to Tuam Road.

He said “it’s not a popularity contest”, and the junctions will be chosen on the basis of proper planning and design and road safety, as well as minimising impacts on landowners.

“Landowners affected by the emerging preferred route have been coming in and they can continue to come in if they want to discuss anything. There won’t be any big change to the route but we will continue to tweak it,” he said.

Mr Timmins said the main body of work between now and spring was more detailed site investigations to determine the extent of bog and rock along the route.

The route selection report by Arup concludes that the road is needed, and recommends the emerging preferred route as the “optimum corridor for additional road infrastructure which meets the objectives”.

The report also recommended to “review the extent of provision of road infrastructure necessary within this preferred route corridor in conjunction with the wider integrated management transport programme for Galway which will identify the level of service requirements for each mode of transport including walking, cycling, public transport and private vehicle.

“The parallel processes of identification of a preferred route corridor for the road component and the identification of the maximum service provision by the other transport modes will ensure delivery of an overall sustainable transport solution in order to meet both the current and future travel needs of Galway.”