WATCH: Simulation of traffic flow on proposed Kirwan junction

Galway City Council has selected a preferred option for the removal of the Menlo Park roundabout – it will be replaced by a four-arm signalised junction.

The redesign will also see the Coolough Road diverted onto the N84 Headford Road, and the creation of a new slip road from the junction to enter Coolough/Menlo.

A simulation of morning peak traffic flow in 2019 at the proposed new Kirwan junction. The video begins at the Bodkin (Galway Shopping Centre) junction, and moves along the N6 Headford Road to the Kirwan (Menlo Park) junction. The top of the screen is North.

Officials believe that if the final design is approved, the new €1.2 million junction could be up-and-running in 2019 – councillors were warned that funding is available for the project, but it is a case of “use it or lose it”.

According to consultants, the average delays will be reduced by 25%, while the junction capacity will increase by 15% – officials also predict a 90% reduction in rat-running through Tirellan.

At a meeting in City Hall this week, councillors were presented with an analysis of six options for the replacement of the roundabout, and the emerging preferred option proposed by consultants Halcrow Barry.

City councillors voted 9-7 in favour of accepting the design choice – a detailed scheme will be drawn up and will go on public display later this year.

Project Manager Daragh Delaney of Halcrow Barry consultants told the meeting that around 40,000 vehicles pass through what is officially known as the Kirwan roundabout between 7am and 7pm each day.

The poor pedestrian and cycle facilities in the existing layout were also highlighted – a survey recorded 1,000 pedestrians between 7am and 7pm, a figure which the consultants believe is supressed because of the safety issues.

Uinsinn Finn, the Council’s Senior Engineer, said the local authority would always try to acquire land by negotiation, and until the emerging preferred route was decided on, landowners would not be approached.

Following queries, Mr Delaney said the option of an overpass could not be considered because of the cost involved, as well as the impact it would have on private residences, as well as the likes of Motorpark, the Maldron Hotel and Sweeney Oil, as it would require a much larger footprint.

Mr Finn added that flyovers would only really be considered where the junction was handling more than 90,000 vehicles per day.

Tom Connell, Director of Services for Transport, said the team charged with drawing up redesign plans was totally new and were looking at the scheme from anew.

Council Chief Executive Brendan McGrath said he met with Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the National Transport Authority last week, and was effectively told to get the job done by 2019 or the local authority will have to fund the project itself.

“Doing nothing is not an option. Watching this city and a junction grind to a halt is not an option. The junction is operating way beyond its design capacity. In 2024 it will be at a complete standstill. TII will not keep funding open. We are in a use it or lost it situation,” he said.

Initially, engineers drew up 14 options for the new junction, and subsequently a shortlist of six.

The six ‘finalists’ were then analysed using criteria including accessibility and social inclusion; integration; physical activity; environment; safety and economy.

The options were:
■ A five armed signalised junction without any changes to the current roundabout exits;
■ A four-arm signalised junction and a link from Bothar na dTreabh (inbound) to Liosbán and Sandy Road using a ‘left in/left out’ system;
■ A four-arm signalised junction and link road parallel to Bothar na dTreabh and Sandy Road with a ‘left out’ only system;
■ A four-arm signalised junction and a link road through the Nox Hotel to Bothar na dTreabh with a ‘left in/left out’ system.
■ A four-arm signalised junction with the Coolagh Road diverted to the Headford Road opposite Dunnes tores.
■ The option selected by councillors.

Mr Delaney said that the preferred option scored second best after Option 1 in terms of environmental impact; scored very similarly to other options in terms of safety assessments; had the best benefit-to-cost ratio and provided the greatest benefit to traffic delays.

It is now the Council’s intention to produce a more detailed preliminary design and put it out on public display, at the same time, a variation will have to be approved to the City Development Plan.

If it gets the final go-ahead, the project will go for design, tender and construction in 2018, with completion in 2019.