Moycullen roadworks drive motorists to distraction
On two successive days delays caused by the roadworks through Moycullen reached a peak of 50 minutes for commuters.
The bad news for motorists is that the roadworks will continue for another ten months on a ‘stop and go’ system as construction workers undertake the €3.5 million project.
A spokesman for the National Roads Project Office said average delays at morning and evening peak commuting times was between 15 and 20 minutes. However, delays of 50 minutes have been experienced.
“We have been trying to find out why that could be. Some people think it was a combination of frosty roads, others say it could be down to the mocks. I don’t think it can all be blamed on the road works,” he revealed.
“It has stabilized back to 15 and 20 minutes, but that’s only around 8am. If motorists drive through at 7.40, they may get through by 7.50 so it depends on the time. It’s busier earlier on Monday mornings and later on a Friday.”
A manual stop and go system operates in busy times in a bid to minimise tailbacks and by traffic lights at other times. The work is being carried out in 500m sections, starting on the Galway side of the village. As the work is carried out further away from the village, the delays are expected to ease slightly.
The project managers ruled out a diversion due to the traffic volumes and the narrowness of the road. Working at night time was also ruled out as the road has to be dug up and cannot be driven on by motorists.
The 1.2km scheme along the N59 Galway to Clifden Road involves widening the road from near the Kylebroghlan Road and tying into the existing road at a location approximately 300m east of the Clydagh Bridge. The works include the installation of cycle lanes, footpaths and lighting.
Work on a bypass for the village is expected to follow once funding has been secured. Land has been purchased and a route finalised.