Traffic chaos after trawler fire leads to Docks closure

A NUMBER of residents and businesses had to be evacuated yesterday morning over explosion fears concerning a gas cylinder on a trawler in the Docks that caught fire.

As a result of the alert, the Docks area was closed off to traffic for several hours yesterday leading to lengthy tailbacks across the city.

City Mayor, Cllr. Padraig Conneely said that shortly after lunchtime on Thursday it had taken him 45 minutes to travel from the lights at Moneenageisha to City Hall – he described the situation as ‘absolutely chaotic’.

“Where is this master traffic plan that we’re supposed to have in place when something like this arises. There was no plan in place – people missed appointments and just couldn’t move,” said Mayor Conneely.

He said that while he understood the need to close the road on safety grounds, he wasn’t at all happy with the alternative traffic arrangements that were put in place.

He said that one of his priorities over the coming days would be to get a full report on the workings of any master traffic plan in place at City Hall.

However, in a statement issued by Galway City Council, they said that the closure of a major artery like the Docks route, had to have an unavoidably adverse impact on city traffic.

“Since 11.40pm on Thursday we used every possible media outlet to get the message out there over the issue that arose at the Docks.

Around 25 people were evacuated from houses and businesses in the Docks area – they were moved to the Meyrick Hotel in Eyre Square.

Gardai, units of Galway Fire Brigade, Civil Defence personnel and City Council staff were at the scene of the trawler fire that started shortly after 9am.

Although the fire was quickly put out, the main safety concerns centred on an acetylene gas cylinder on the boat that was considered an explosive risk due to the high temperatures.

The cylinder was deemed to be safe shortly before 3pm, once thermal monitoring equipment confirmed that its temperature had dropped to normal levels.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.