Docks traffic snag to last more than another year

BY ENDA CUNNINGHAM

Galway City Council has no immediate traffic management plans to alleviate the regular backlogs of vehicles along the Docks caused by hoardings at the arthouse cinema site – which will not be completed for at least 13 months.

The Council has claimed it was “not privy” to the problems which arose on the site for the Picture Palace on Lower Merchants Road last June – however the Galway City Tribune understands one of their senior officials acted as an observer at board meetings of Solas Picture Palace where the problems would have been discussed.

Concerns have been expressed that the closure of a lane on Dock Road to accommodate the building works could cause problems through the tourist season and even for next year’s Volvo Ocean Race ‘grand finale’.

City councillor Padraig Conneely argued that allowing traffic to turn onto New Dock Street would reduce traffic volumes by between 35% and 40%.It emerged at a meeting between City Council officials, several councillors and a representative of Solas this week that a senior executive officer from the Council (who retired recently) had attended Solas board meetings.

Despite this, a City Hall official told a Council meeting last month that the local authority was “not privy to issues arising on the site”.

A Council spokesperson told the Galway City Tribune yesterday that traffic problems are caused by the narrowness of Wolfe Tone Bridge, and not the closure of one lane at the Docks to accommodate safety hoardings for the cinema site.

The local authority has also dismissed a suggestion by Cllr Padraig Conneely to allow cars to turn right from Dock Road onto New Dock Street, remove the traffic island (outside the House Hotel) and allow cars turn left again onto Spanish Parade or right onto Merchants Road.

“This issue was dealt with extensively at a meeting in January. The pinchpoint is Wolfe Tone Bridge, and to do this would just move the pinchpoint 50 yards further down the road," said a spokesperson.

Read more in this week's Galway City Tribune