Connacht Tribune
Tuam’s traffic problems may be eased ahead of M17 opening
Speculation continues to grow that the long-awaited Tuam bypass could be open ahead of schedule – possibly at the end of the summer.
The Tuam bypass is being constructed along with the M17/M18 motorway and was due to be open in November but now there is a belief that this section may be brought into use much earlier.
According to Cllr Shaun Cunniffe from Tuam, the bypass could be open as early as August. He said that he had been in discussion with engineers who are attached to the overall €550 million project.
And there was added good news in that Galway County Council intents to carry out a major resurfacing programme along the stretch of the N17 through the town of Tuam once the motorway is completed.
Cllr Cunniffe said that the possible early opening of the Tuam bypass would be a welcome move as it would bring an end to the horrendous traffic congestion that occurs each morning and evening.
Much of the traffic delays is down to the fact that there are three sets of traffic lights within a half mile stretch from the Weir Road junction to the junction at Ballygaddy Road.
Galway County Council have made efforts to synchronise the lights to ease the traffic flow but there is still a problem with congestion during the peak periods.
“Those working with the contractors Direct Route have informed me that there is now a distinct possibility that the Tuam bypass will be open earlier than expected. This is very good news for motorists travelling from North Galway into the city,” Cllr Cunniffe added.
However, the business community in Tuam remain apprehensive about the effects that the bypass will have on their trade. They fear that the loss of passing traffic could have serious consequences – and particularly for filling stations along the N17.
It is estimated that the bypass could take some 10,000 cars away from Tuam town when it opens and it is likely to have an impact on businesses along the existing N17.
Direct Route have always insisted that the motorway and Tuam bypass will open at the same time – probably in November with an official opening to take place in the following February.
Meanwhile, Minister Sean Canney has announced that he has received confirmation that road works to improve the surface of the existing N17 through Tuam will be carried out when the new motorway opens.
Minister Canney said that he had made strong representations regarding the re-surfacing of the existing N17 from the Weir Road junction to the Town and Country Garage on the Milltown Road.
“The condition of the road through Tuam is very poor and in great need of works to improve the surface as a matter of urgency. “I am happy to report that the Council intends to carry out works on this section of the road when the motorway opens,” he said.
Connacht Tribune
West has lower cancer survival rates than rest
Significant state investment is required to address ‘shocking’ inequalities that leave cancer patients in the West at greater risk of succumbing to the disease.
A meeting of Regional Health Forum West heard that survival rates for breast, lung and colorectal cancers than the national average, and with the most deprived quintile of the population, the West’s residents faced poorer outcomes from a cancer diagnosis.
For breast cancer patients, the five-year survival rate was 80% in the West versus 85% nationally; for lung cancer patients it was 16.7% in the west against a 19.5% national survival rate; and in the West’s colorectal cancer patients, there was a 62.6% survival rate where the national average was 63.1%.
These startling statistics were provided in answer to a question from Ballinasloe-based Cllr Evelyn Parsons (Ind) who said it was yet another reminder that cancer treatment infrastructure in the West was in dire need of improvement.
“The situation is pretty stark. In the Western Regional Health Forum area, we have the highest incidence of deprivation and the highest health inequalities because of that – we have the highest incidences of cancer nationally because of that,” said Cllr Parsons, who is also a general practitioner.
In details provided by CEO of Saolta Health Care Group, which operates Galway’s hospitals, it was stated that a number of factors were impacting on patient outcomes.
Get the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now, or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.
Connacht Tribune
Galway minors continue to lay waste to all opponents
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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Connacht Tribune
Gardaí and IFA issue a joint appeal on summer road safety
GARDAÍ and the IFA have issued a joint appeal to all road users to take extra care as the silage season gets under way across the country.
Silage harvesting started in many parts of Galway last week – and over the coming month, the sight of tractors and trailers on rural roads will be getting far more frequent.
Inspector Conor Madden, who is in charge of Galway Roads Policing, told the Farming Tribune that a bit of extra care and common-sense from all road users would go a long way towards preventing serious collisions on roads this summer.
“One thing I would ask farmers and contractors to consider is to try and get more experienced drivers working for them.
“Tractors have got faster and bigger – and they are also towing heavy loads of silage – so care and experience are a great help in terms of accident prevention,” Inspector Madden told the Farming Tribune.
He said that tractor drivers should always be aware of traffic building up behind them and to pull in and let these vehicles pass, where it was safe to do so.
“By the same token, other road users should always exercise extra care; drive that bit slower; and ‘pull in’ that bit more, when meeting tractors and heavy machinery.
“We all want to see everyone enjoying a safe summer on our roads – that extra bit of care, and consideration for other roads users can make a huge difference,” said Conor Madden.
He also advised motorists and tractor drivers to be acutely aware of pedestrians and cyclists on the roads during the summer season when more people would be out walking and cycling on the roads.
The IFA has also joined in on the road safety appeal with Galway IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Chair Teresa Roche asking all road users to exercise that extra bit of care and caution.
“We are renewing our annual appeal for motorists to be on the look out for tractors, trailers and other agricultural machinery exiting from fields and farmyards,” she said.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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