Wind farm cabling will cause traffic disruption

Major traffic disruption is expected across Galway over the next six months during the laying of an underground cable to connect the new Galway Wind Park in Roscahill to the national electricity grid.

However, the backers of the project have insisted they will be working to minimize disruption.

Work is set to begin this week on laying a total of 21km of cabling from west of Moycullen to the existing Salthill-Screebe substation and then the substation in Ballybrit on the eastern side of the city.

Part of the 110kV cable route runs under the bed of the River Corrib.

Already, the project is causing traffic disruption, with early morning tailbacks reported this week.

The SSE Renewables project involves laying:

■ 6.3km on the N59 between Doon Road and Moycullen;
■ 9km on the N59 betyween Moycullen and NUIG
■ 2.3km between Menlo and Kirwan Roundabout
■ 2.5km between Kirwan Roundabout and Ballybrit

The road works are expected to be completed in August, while the windfarm at Cloosh Valley – under construction since the end of 2014 – will be operational at the beginning of next year.

At a public meeting in Moycullen last week, locals expressed concerns in relation to overall traffic movements, while representatives from SSE Renewables and their contractors (GMC Utilities) gave assurances that all efforts will be in place to minimise disruptions.

The company said progress and difficulties, should they arise, will be closely examined on a regular basis.

All road users have been advised to be fully aware of the works and the possibility of delays as they undertake journeys, as works may be along different sections of the planned route at different times of the year.

Works in the general vicinity of schools will take place during school breaks and holidays.

At the meeting, business owners stressed that business had been adversely affected due to the N59 roadworks over the past fifteen months and they hoped that such delays would not continue with the cable operations.

According to the contractors, cable laying work will be undertaken from 8am to 7pm on Mondays to Fridays and from 8am to 5pm on Saturdays.

The works in Moycullen village and primary junctions will take place during May and during night hours to minimise disruption and delays to local residents and business outlets.

Traffic management and controls with traffic light signals, will be in place over the coming months. The temporary traffic lights will be on a countdown timer and monitored, taking full account of traffic flows.

A total of 69 turbines will be erected at the wind farm, producing enough green energy to power around 84,000 homes – the equivalent of almost 90% of the houses in the county.

Meanwhile, it is believed that the road surfacing works in the Clydagh-Uggoole and Kylebroughlawn areas will go ahead from February 8. The public lights are in operation and works are on-going on the provision of the walking-cycling paths.