TD suggests expertise from outside to end Galway traffic disaster

City centre businesses are counting the cost of some of the worst traffic snarl-ups that took place in Galway last week.

Such was the chaos that many shoppers turned around and went back home as traffic ground to a halt on nearly every route into the city.

It has now been suggested that the combined brains of Galway City Council and Galway County Council be utilised to sort out the traffic congestion that is proving detrimental to businesses in the city centre.

And if that does not resolve the problem, then it has been proposed that some outside agencies expert in dealing with traffic management issues being engaged.

Deputy Noel Grealish said that it was now essential that a proper traffic management plan be put in place for the city in view of the fact that the Galway City Outer Bypass would not be provided for at least 20 years.

But he now suggests that an outside agency be engaged to sort out Galway’s traffic woes which accentuate during adverse weather conditions.

On one particular day last week, the traffic build-ups were so bad that motorists – mainly shoppers – simply turned around and went home.

Galway City Council claims that changing the sequence of traffic lights at junctions in the city, will not improve traffic flow.

But Deputy Grealish said that the current situation could not continue and believed that there should be “joined up thinking” between the City Council and the County Council with regard to traffic management.

“The situation is that there will be no outer bypass within the next 20 years so we have to look at moving traffic around Galway city as best we can.

“At the moment this is not happening and the lights are a major problem for motorists entering the city. Despite what officials say, they are no better than the roundabouts that were there. In fact in some cases they are worse,” Deputy Grealish added.

Director of Galway Transportation Unit, Joe Tansey, says the sequence of lights at junctions, such as the one at the Tuam road, has not changed recently.

He says the travel patterns of motorists have changed and the junctions can only take a certain volume of traffic.

Angry motorists complained they were late for work and were disciplined, missed medical appointments, been late to school and college lectures.

Businesses were also complaining that trade was down because motorists were opting to go to Athlone to avoid traffic delays in Galway.