String of ‘Park & Rides’ planned for Ocean Race

Date Published: 28-Oct-2008

GALWAY City Council is drawing up a major Traffic Management Plan for next year’s visit of the Volvo Ocean Race – when around 250,000 people are expected to arrive in the city over the 10 day stopover.

Proposals for a number of Park and Ride services are also being drawn up by Let’s Do It Galway, the team who secured the Ocean Race stopover, which begins on the weekend of May 22 next.

The City Council’s Director of Services for Transportation and Infrastructure Ciarán Hayes told the Sentinel that the main elements of the traffic plan will be completed by the end of the year.

“We are currently drawing up a Traffic Management Plan and a plan for the Festival Village. That will involve looking at what road closures may be needed, and working out which areas will be most affected by traffic.

“We are liaising with Let’s Do It Galway and the Gardaí, and work on the plan has already started. It will be drawn up by the end of the year, but it is something that will still be finalised coming up to the event,” Mr Hayes said.

He added that the Council is endeavouring to avoid closing roads around the city. “If there …