Business group warns of backlash over traffic chaos

THE Galway Chamber of Commerce has warned City Hall that it would face a backlash from the business community if the local authority installed a Moneenageisha-style junction at the Headford Road.A controversial new framework plan to revitalise the Headford Road area of the city is due to be presented to councillors next month. The plan is expected to include proposals to remove the congested Headford Road Roundabout at the Galway Shopping Centre, replacing it with hightech so-called 'intelligent’ traffic lights systems similar to those newly installed at Moneenageisha Roundabout.Director of Services for Transportation Ciarán Hayes has indicated that the roundabouts at the Headford Road and GMIT would be candidates for the smart junction “in the long term”. Both roundabouts were under severe pressure due to congestion. However, the head of the Galway Chamber Michael Coyle said its members would be opposed to installing this system at the Headford Road as they had not been proven to have worked at Moneenageisha. In fact, they had resulted in worse traffic congestion, which was costing businesses millions of euro in lost trade.“Our members believe that Moneenageisha is impacting negatively on their business. It hasn’t achieved what it set out to achieve. Why create a second junction that is likely to exacerbate that problem?” he said.“City Hall’s response is they are still tweaking and to give it time. We’re three months down the line and Galway traders feel strongly that the junction is hurting and damaging their business because...