New Galway BusConnects scheme set for 2029 start
The long-awaited 3.9km project will include new bus lanes, segregated cycle tracks and traffic lights at Merlin Park Hospital, with completion expected by mid-2031.
Work on Galway's Dublin Road BusConnects scheme is expected to begin in early 2029 and finish by mid-2031, according to a timetable provided by the National Transport Authority (NTA).
Galway West Fianna Fáil TD John Connolly welcomed the timeline after receiving a written response to a parliamentary question about the long-awaited project.
"This is positive news for Galway. The NTA has confirmed to me that the Dublin Road Scheme is expected to be included in its next capital investment programme, providing a clear pathway for the project to move forward," he said.
"People have been waiting a long time for certainty on this project. This response sets out a clear timeline for delivery and is an important step forward."
Funding is expected to be included in the NTA's draft Integrated Implementation Plan, due to be published for public consultation before the end of the year.
However, the investment plan has yet to be finalised, and the proposed construction timetable remains subject to funding.
The 3.9km scheme will run from east of the Moneenageisha junction to Doughiska, with additional bus lanes in both directions, improved bus stops, segregated cycle tracks and upgraded footpaths.
The route passes the Atlantic Technological University campus, Merlin Park Hospital and Bon Secours Hospital, as well as several schools and residential areas.
Plans also include traffic lights at the entrance to Merlin Park Hospital, where safety concerns have been raised following a series of collisions, including a serious two-car crash in June.
Planning approval was granted last year following public consultations and revisions to the original design.
Galway City Council confirmed in April that it had begun the compulsory purchase process for properties along the route and was preparing to appoint engineering consultants for detailed design work.
The project will also connect with cycling improvements at Ballybane Road, Castlepark Road and Doughiska Road South, as well as the proposed BusConnects Cross-City Link through the city centre.