Call for bus-only hours on Galway bridge to ease traffic ‘choke point’
Galway Commuter Coalition will make a presentation before Galway City Council to advance a bus-only timeframe on Salmon Weir bridge as a priority project under Bus Connects.
The Galway Commuter Coalition is set to present independent data to Galway City Council’s Strategic Policy Committee on Tuesday, September 22 calling for the implementation of bus-only hours on the Salmon Weir bridge.
The proposal includes omitting private vehicular traffic from the bridge from 7am to 7pm daily, making provision for bus flow with less traffic.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, a representative from the coalition said if the project is prioritised then it will act as a cost-effective, efficient traffic measure until the full implementation of Bus Connects Galway Cross-City Link.
Looking onto Newtownsmith with the Salmon Weir Bridge to the right. © Google Maps
The Salmon Weir bridge, one of three bridges crossing the river, remains a key aspect of the Bus Connects plan. However, the call is to advance this one aspect to ease traffic until bigger works begin.
In addition to the new traffic plan, turning left from Newtownsmith Road onto the bridge would no longer be available.
The coalition has identified the bridge as a “choke point” in Galway traffic hours as data shows the bridge responsible for the average of one to seven “ghost buses” during peak hours. Ghost buses are buses that do not show up at their scheduled service time due to severe delays.
The project would be pushed with a €33,000 price tag, the Galway Commuter Coalition spokesperson said.
That would cover the paint and new signage needed to communicate the change to drivers. The group believes that the most difficult part of the strategy will be enforcing the new traffic plan but they are confident drivers will adjust quickly.
“Following an extensive process of researching and costing the proposal, the Coalition welcomes the opportunity to present to the diverse group of City Councillors, industry experts, community leaders, and environmental champions that sit on the Project Development SPC,” the spokesperson said.
“Effective and reliable transportation is in the best interest of all stakeholders in Galway, and the Coalition is ready to discuss all angles of the proposal.”
The coalition’s presentation is on the SPC agenda under Project Development on Tuesday at 10am. They are hoping the presentation will facilitate a vote to move the project ahead and “prove the ambition of the council.”