Galway city resident files complaint to contractor over Active Travel works as project nears completion
Serious traffic congestion complaints marked the first day of resurfacing works on Castlepark Road and Ballybane Road on Wednesday, as the Active Travel project nears completion.
The resurfacing works are among the final elements to be completed before the much-criticised project is finished.
Galway City Councillor Shane Forde told the Irish Independent he had received complaints regarding traffic flow following the closure of Ballybane Road earlier this week.
Drivers have been let through the Castlepark Road towards the Ballybane Road junction, only to be turned around near Atlantic Technological University (ATU), resulting in gridlock.
Cllr Forde contacted Galway City Council for mediation efforts.
The council said diversions and road closures had been put in place and communicated to drivers in advance of the works, along with signage at “every junction”.
A traffic management operative was put in place at the Castlepark junction.
In a statement on Wednesday April 8, the council said: “As this is the first day of the closure, drivers may expect that they can continue through Castlepark to Ballybane Road. This was observed earlier in the day, and a more settled pattern of traffic flow has developed over the day. As the duration of the traffic management continue, drivers will become more familiar with the traffic management arrangement.”
Meanwhile, residents living near ATU claimed they were not informed of closures affecting local access to their homes.
A formal complaint was lodged by a resident to Coffey Construction and the Active Travel department over “the lack of organisation, planning, resident communication, and basic respect shown throughout this project”.
The Irish Independent has seen the complaint, which also details an interaction with a Coffey employee who allegedly used explicative language when the resident asked about the road closures.
“This behaviour is completely unprofessional, disrespectful, and wholly unacceptable,” the complaint read. “Residents in Ballybane have endured months of disruption, poor communication, and chaotic traffic arrangements as a result of these works. Despite our patience, being spoken to in such a manner particularly after a long day of work is not acceptable.”
The resident called for the complaint to be acknowledged, an investigation into the employee, and a “clear explanation for the repeated failures in traffic management by Coffey Construction”.
Cllr Forde has also forwarded the complaint to the Galway City Council’s chief executive.
In February 2026, the Irish Independent reported the Ballybane/Castlepark project to be 90pc complete. Traffic lights have been turned out and road resurfacing carried out as the final touches on the project designed to accomodate pedestrain and cycle commuter paths.
Cllr Forde has been a tough ctritic on the national guidleines for Active Travel schemes, and how they seem unfit for Galway roads. Buses travelling along Ballybane road have faced challenges with a narrowed route leaving “no margain for error.”
The project is expected to be completed by the end of April.
The Irish Independent reached out to Coffey Construction for comment.