New lower speed limits will be in force on all but four rural local roads in County Galway from the end of next week.

The Department of Transport confirmed to the Connacht Tribune that speed limits on local roads – totalling around 5,300 kilometres in Galway – will be reduced by 20km/h to 60km/h on Friday week, February 8.

And management at County Hall insisted that despite pressures from Storm Éowyn, Galway County Council will have erected the necessary new 60km/h speed signs across the relevant roads network over the next week.

“Works are well advanced on the signage installation required, and the necessary signage will be in place for the implementation date. February 7 is the commencement date for the section of legislation revising the default speed limit on local roads from 80km/h to 60km/h. Galway County Council are well positioned to meet that deadline and will not need or request a postponement,” senior engineer Tom Prendergast said.

Mr Prendergast said work on signage installation started in December through a mix of contractor and direct labour, and they will be ready ahead of next Friday’s deadline.

The cost to the Council of installing new signage was about €750,000, all of which can be recouped from the Department of Transport who procured and supplied the signs.

Only four roads in County Galway will remain at 80km/h, because they were deemed safe at the higher speeds.

The roads that remain unchanged are in the Ballinasloe MD area (12.8km of the Ballyforan to Mountbellew road and three sections of the Ballygar to Creggs road) and Athenry (1.15km of Athenry Outer Ring Road and 650 metres of the Athenry Ring Road at Presentation College).

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