Galway Ring Road- are there better ways to solve traffic?

what_traffic · 21-08-2023 1:19pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121003835#Comment_121003835

FYI: Spotted in local paper that they (DEXCOM) are having an open day in Raheen Woods hotel this week. Wednesday 23 & Thursday24th August between 17h00 -> 20h00

21-08-2023 2:59pm

Imagine the numbers if these routes had full bus lanes, both ways, and priority at junctions

https://galwaybayfm.ie/galway-bay-fm-news-desk/parkmore-atu-route-is-bus-eireanns-busiest-galway-city-service-with-1-5m-yearly-users/

remfan · 26-09-2023 10:53am

https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/work-on-long-delayed-galway-ring-road-to-start-in-2026/a1121375295.html#msdynttrid=YV2kAqDyDwVlDe0ov7Q1ZwKHpL55vv1jrPVpMpZoYcA

Kermit.de.frog · 26-09-2023 11:20am

Good to see.

markpb · 26-09-2023 11:35am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121158341#Comment_121158341

It's neither positive nor negative. It just means that the government are still keeping it in their medium term budget.

Consonata · 26-09-2023 12:41pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121158209#Comment_121158209

Meaningless since it won't fall within the carbon budget. Appeasement for Galway TDs and little more

prunudo · 26-09-2023 1:04pm

So we can't build anymore roads due to a carbon budget? We can't stand still forever more, as the population increases new roads will be required and in the future will be used by ev's.

remfan · 26-09-2023 1:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121158686#Comment_121158686

https://www.epa.ie/news-releases/news-releases-2023/ireland-projected-to-fall-well-short-of-climate-targets-says-epa.php

I doubt very much that the Carbon Budget will have any impact here, and this is also another form of appeasement. Agriculture, Electricity, Transport and Industry sectors are projected to be the furthest from their sectoral ceiling in 2030. Maybe the 2030-40 carbon budget will be better enforced. By the time the ring road opens 30-40% of the cars will be EVs anyway so that should make the carbon budget less of an issue.

markpb · 26-09-2023 1:31pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121158851#Comment_121158851

You're assuming that the only carbon emissions from a road are from the engines driving on it. There is (currently) an extremely large carbon cost to constructing the road in the first place.

remfan · 26-09-2023 3:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121158907#Comment_121158907

I wasn't assuming anything, just sharing what the EPA stated. I hate to think how much carbon has been released (and is still being released) daily in Galway from the thousands of vehicles stuck in the endless and now daily traffic jams, and it's been like this for the past 20 years (maybe apart from a few months during the Covid lockdowns). I want to see the bulk of the traffic taken out of the city and then that would allow more opportunities for additional bus and cycle lanes etc. The population of just the city and suburbs will grow by between 40,000 and 48,000 by 2040. And as we love our cars that's probably an extra 10K cars (hopefully EVs) in the city alone. We must do something to shift that traffic (and future traffic growth) away from the city centre. A medieval city that was never designed for traffic in the first place and which is sandwiched between the lake and the sea.

hans aus dtschl · 26-09-2023 3:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121159659#Comment_121159659

Is there a link between the new "ring road" (not a distributor or a bypass) and the removal of traffic from the city?

Sam Russell · 26-09-2023 3:22pm

EVs will not save the planet. They may save the car industry - which I think is their aim.

Galway needs to solve its traffic problem outside of the GRR. It will not be built within a decade - if ever.

Public transport, and active travel might go a long way. Bus lanes and frequent buses and maybe a Luas line or two - they do not need to go far - only as far as Park and Ride located outside the congestion zones.

Sam Russell · 26-09-2023 3:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121159715#Comment_121159715

It is just another name to confuse.

Galway cannot have a ring road unless it tunnels under the bay.

Seth Brundle · 26-09-2023 4:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121159659#Comment_121159659

I wasn't assuming anything, just sharing what the EPA stated. I hate to think how much carbon has been released (and is still being released) daily in Galway from the thousands of vehicles stuck in the endless and now daily traffic jams, and it's been like this for the past 20 years (maybe apart from a few months during the Covid lockdowns).

If your concern was actually for a lowering of carbon emissions then the GRR is not for you as even the councils have confirmed that it will in fact increase emissions as well as making traffic worse.

What is causing these emissions is everyone making the choice to drive rather than use public transport. Why do they make that choice? Because public transport is not being given a chance due to the numbers of people driving who slow down PT.

I want to see the bulk of the traffic taken out of the city and then that would allow more opportunities for additional bus and cycle lanes etc.

Again, the GRR will not remove traffic from the city and will more than likely make it worse.

The population of just the city and suburbs will grow by between 40,000 and 48,000 by 2040. And as we love our cars that's probably an extra 10K cars (hopefully EVs) in the city alone. We must do something to shift that traffic (and future traffic growth) away from the city centre. A medieval city that was never designed for traffic in the first place and which is sandwiched between the lake and the sea.

So you need to be asking your councillors what they are doing to improve sustainable development and sustainable transport for Galway city and environs because, as it is planned, the GRR will never, ever be a positive thing for Galway no matter what way the council tart it up!

Bobeagleburger · 26-09-2023 5:19pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121159918#Comment_121159918

Public transport isn't available for everyone. In the city yes, but commuter towns no.

Bus lanes are inadequate outside of certain areas.

People won't use public transport if it takes them longer to get to work, or if it significantly lower in cost.

Build bus lanes and massively subsidise public transport. It won't happen though.

GCC are seriously incompetent. Sitting on their hands for a good decade now. All the eggs in the ring road project. No plan B. Or, if there was it was a poorly managed one.

These thread will still be going in 2030.

Sam Russell · 26-09-2023 5:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121160166#Comment_121160166

The way to deal with out of town one off house residents is with P&R with frequent PT from there to the places of employment. A P&R at Claregalway, for example, connected to a Luas that went to the city centre would certainly cope with a lot of current congestion. Likewise a Luas from Knocknacarra to the Coolagh roundabout along Bothar Na dTreabh would be an excellent way of connecting a P&R at each end. Perhaps take the Luas on to Oranmore to another P&R.

A shiny Luas would cost less than the GRR and be much appreciated by those that use it.

Bobeagleburger · 26-09-2023 5:41pm

A Luas? Is there even a plan for that? Always seemed like a unrealistic idea that someone dreamt up to keep themselves relevant.

26-09-2023 5:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121160275#Comment_121160275

It's proposed to include a proposal for a feasibility study in the next iteration of the GTS, the GMATS, which is due by the end of the year

Sam Russell · 26-09-2023 8:27pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121160275#Comment_121160275

Luas or similar dedicated segregated bus service - preferably electric o/h wired.

prunudo · 26-09-2023 9:14pm

I know its in trend to dismiss new roads but with an ever increasing population is there room on the existing roads for all these bus lanes, cycle lanes and Luas projects that people are suggesting. While not adversely impacting other road users.

Whether we like it or not, we still need to accommodate vehicles; cars, vans and trucks will still be needed in the future.

27-09-2023 2:51am

This road was costed at 200 mil in 2021. It's now been signed off at cabinet at 450 mil

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/803f1-minister-ryan-announces-n5-ballaghaderreen-to-scramoge-road-project/

Based on that level of inflation you're looking at 1- 1.5 billion for the GCRR

KrisW1001 · 27-09-2023 8:00am

As noted in the thread for that road, it's not an increase of that scale, but rather a change in how costs are reported. €200m was the previous price for the construction alone, €450m is the total price for the scheme including all design activities, land acquisition, and construction.

So yes, there has been an increase in construction cost, but it's not a 125% increase.

marno21 · 27-09-2023 8:07am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121162204#Comment_121162204

The construction cost for the 2021 tender award to Roadbridge was 134.63m euro. 200m euro was the cost of the entire scheme.

(Source: https://irl.eu-supply.com/ctm/Supplier/PublicTenders/ViewNotice/248013)

I'm baffled at how 35km of mostly at grade single carriageway through Roscommon could increase that much.

what_traffic · 27-09-2023 8:46am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121161108#Comment_121161108

New Roads will be built especially on the eastern side of the City and existing ones on the periphery of the City will have to be brought up to standard. The big population increase is planned for EAST side of the City in Ardaun. Will be ALL NEW Roads in there. One could start building a GLUAS and Cycle Network in the morning for the West of the City without any major impact whats so ever on the current existing Road Network. The powers that be just not bothered with getting on and doing it for the last 2 decades would weaken case for the GCRR.

remfan · 27-09-2023 11:59am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121162319#Comment_121162319

Lot of new builds to the north and west of Knocknacarra, along the Rahoon and Letteragh roads and also more developments planned (and or underway) for Ballymoneen, Cappagh and Clybaun roads. New developments too in Barna (another 200 houses under construction in one scheme alone). The area near Dunnes/B&Q will see major new apartment complexes once they get planning (both sides of the WDR. Not to mention the hundreds of new student beds opened in Corrib village. There doesn't seem to be anything forcing development to start in Ardaun, which of course would make sense.

what_traffic · 27-09-2023 3:20pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121163259#Comment_121163259

True alot of those Developments will need upgrade of the existing roads that you mention - is it time for the GLUAS so then along that WDR corridor - plenty of space for it. Could go all the way to Bearna.

remfan · 28-09-2023 9:37am

always amazed me that they didn't put in proper bike lanes on the WDR when they did it, there is a load of space on it's entire route. The current bike lane is dangerous as it shares the road with the cars etc.

Seth Brundle · 28-09-2023 9:51am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121167793#Comment_121167793

In general, cycle lanes were a box ticking exercise across the country, not just Galway. Remember that the below was the cycle lane model for Galway city...

It is symptomatic of Galway's inability to plan infrastructure properly.

Sam Russell · 28-09-2023 10:52am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121167841#Comment_121167841

Quote: It is symptomatic of Galway's inability to plan infrastructure properly.

Or at all!

They appear to manage to cope with infrastructure for cars though.

Seth Brundle · 28-09-2023 11:03am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121168036#Comment_121168036

But they don't really cope with cars which is why the palce is gridlocked at the best of times. However, pissing a billion or more away on a new road that they confirm will just make traffic in the city even worse than it is does thake the proverbial biscuit.

Galway Ring Road- are there better ways to solve traffic?

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