Concerns have been expressed about the effect that month long roadworks going from Eyre Square to Bohermore will have on city traffic this summer.
Galway City Council has announced that roadworks will be taking place along Prospect Hill and the Bohermore road between Eyre Square and Cookes Terrace throughout all of August.
The roadworks, which are to allow Irish Water to lay a new water main, will involve lane closures while they are taking place daily between 9am and 6pm.
The project will begin on Monday, August 5 and is expected to take until Friday, September 6 to complete.
Several city councillors have made representations to the executive about this project, with concerns expressed about how this could affect traffic in tourist season.
But the council has defended the planned schedule, saying that it has been chosen not to overlap with the Arts Festival or Galway Races.
Councillor Mike Crowe described the plans as “Complete and utter nonsense” in an extremely busy month, and called on the council to reverse the decision.
I have to say, the busiest month in the City and we get this. Complete and utter nonsense. @GalwayCityCo should reverse this decision. pic.twitter.com/nCBSxXQOUO
— Mike Crowe (@mike_mjcrowe) July 16, 2019
The executive of Galway City Council acknowledged that the Transport Department has received representations concerning this project from a number of elected councillors, including Mayor Mike Cubbard.
In a statement to Galway Daily the council said that these are necessary roadworks as part of Irish Water’s conservation programme, and that every effort will be made to keep traffic disruptions to a minimum.
“Galway City Council Roads engineers are in continuous contact with colleagues in Irish Water and they will continue to liaise in advance of the planned commencement of works in the first week in August.”
“The lane closures associated with the works on the watermain have been planned not to coincide with the busy festival period of Galway Arts Festival and Race Week.”
“These are the busy periods when contractors are advised to keep road works to a minimum in Galway City.”
“Every effort will be made to keep traffic disruption to a minimum and staff in City Council will monitor the situation on a regular basis throughout the programme of works.”
